Dark people work on the Mississippi Dark people work while de white people play Pullin' them boats from the dawn to sunset Gettin' no rest till the judgement day Don't look up an' don't look down You don't dust, make the white boss frown Bend your knees an' bow your head An' 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 ol' stream that I long to cross O' man river that ol' man river He must know somethin' but don't say nothin' He just keeps rollin' He keeps on rollin' along Long ol' river forever keeps rollin' on... He don't plant tater He don't plant cotton An' them that plants 'em is soon forgotten But ol' man river he just keeps rollin' along Long ol' river keeps hearing that song You and me, we sweat an' strain Body all achin' and racked with pain Tote that barge! Lift that bale! Git a little drunk an' you land in jail Ah, gits weary an' sick of tryin' I'm tired of livin' an' scared of dyin' But ol' man river he just keeps rollin' along