Writer(s): hammerstein/kern





Here we all work 'long 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 das make the boss man frown

Bend your knees and bow your head

And pull that rope until your 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.



Ol' man river, that ol' man river

He don't say nothin', but he must know somethin'

He just keeps rollin', he keeps on rollin' along



He don't plant tatters, and he don't plant cotton

And them what plants em, are soon forgotten

But ol' man river, just keeps rollin' along



You and me, we sweat and strain

Body all achin' and racked with pain

Tote that barge and lift that bail

You get a little drunk and you lands in jail



I gets weary, and sick of trying

I'm tired of livin', but i'm scared of dyin'

But ol' man river, he just keeps rolin' along




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