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