Dere's an old man called the Mississippi,
Dat's the old man dat I'd like to be,
What does he care if the world's got troubles,
What does he care if da land ain't free?
Old Man River,
Dat Old Man River,
He mus' know somepin',
But don't say nothin'
He just keeps rollin'
He keeps on rollin' along.
He don't plant taters,
He don't plant cotton,
And dem dat plant 'em,
Is soon forgotten,
But old man river,
He jus' keeps rollin' along.
You an' me,
We sweat an' strain,
Body all achin',
An' wracked with pain,
Tote dat barge,
Lift dat bale,
Get a little drunk,
And ya lands in jail.
I gets weary,
An' sick of tryin',
I'm tired of livin',
And scared of dyin',
But old man river,
He jus' keeps rollin' along.
Let me go 'way from da Mississipi,
Let me go 'way from da white man boss,
Show me dat stream called the river Jordan,
Dat's the ole stream dat I longs to cross.
(Choir) Old Man River,
Dat Old Man River,
He mus' know somepin',
But don't say nothin'
He just keeps rollin'
He keeps on rollin' along, (/choir)
X ole river forever keeps rollin' on.
(Choir) He don't plant taters,
He don't plant cotton,
And dem dat plant 'em,
Is soon forgotten,
But old man river,
He jus' keeps rollin' along. (/choir)
Roll on old river,
Keeps hearin' dat song,
You an' me,
We sweat an' strain,
Body all achin',
An' wracked with pain,
Tote dat barge,
And lift dat bale,
We gets a little drunk,
And we lands in jail.
I get weary,
An' sick of tryin'
I'm tired of livin',
An' scared of dyin',
But old man river,
He jus' keeps rollin' along.