Here we all work, on the Mississippi Here we all work, while the white folk play Pullin' them boats from the dawn till sunset Gettin' no rest till the judgment day
Don't look up and don't look down You don't dare make a white man frown Bend your knees and bow your head And pull that rope until you're dead
Let me go 'way from the Mississippi Let me go 'way from the white man boss Show me that stream called the River Jordan That's the old stream that I long to cross
I know that Ol' Man River, that Ol' Man River He must know somethin', the man don't say nothin' I know he just keep on rollin' I want you to know he keeps on rollin' along
He don't plant tatters, he don't plant cotton And them folk they plant 'em I want you to know they're soon forgotten But Ol' Man River, somehow he just keep on rollin', rollin' along
You and me, we got to sweat and strain Body's all achin' and racked with pain Tote that barge, somebody said, "Lift that bail" You drink a little scotch, I want you to know, you gonna land in jail
You know I get weary and so sick of trying I'm tired of livin', but I'm scared, I'm scared of dyin' But that Ol' Man and the river, I say he just The man just keep rollin' on