I get weary, oh Lord and so sick of trying
You don't look up, you don't look down
Tote that barge, lift that bale, get a little drunk
But Ol' Man River, he just keeps rolling a
He don't plant taters and he don't plant cotton
That's the old stream that I long to cross
Sweat and strain, our bodies all aching and wrecked with pain
I'm tired of living and 'fraid of dying
Bend your knees and bow your heads
Let me go away from the Mississippi
Let me go away from the rich man's [incomprehensible]
And tote that barge until you're dead
You know, you and me, sometimes we have to we have to sweat
And then that planters are soon forgotten
Ol' Man River, that Ol' Man River
Show me that stream called the river of Jordan
And you land, you gotta land, yes you land in jail
Getting no rest till the judgment day
Getting no rest from the dawn till sunset
But Ol' Man River, he just keeps rolling along
He don't say nothing, but he must know something
You don't dare make the rich boss frown
Ol' Man River, he just keeps rolling along
