Dere's an ol' man called de Mississippi Dat's de ol' man dat I'd like to be What does he care if de world's got troubles What does he care if de land ain't free Ol' man river, dat ol' man river He mus' know sumpin', but don't say nuthin' He jes' keeps rollin' He keeps on rollin' along He don' plant taters, he don't plant cotton An' dem dat plants' em is soon forgotten But ol'man river He jes' keeps rollin' along You an' me, we sweat an' strain Body all achin' an' wracked wid pain, Tote dat barge! Lif' dat bale! Git a little drunk an' you lands in jail Ah gits weary an' sick of tryin' Ah'm tired of livin' an' skeered of dyin' But ol' man river He jes' keeps rolling' along