Old Man River
by The Earls

Here we all work 
on the Mississippi
Here we all work 
While the rich boys play
Getting no rest 
From the dawn to sunset
Getting no rest 
Till the judgement day

You don't look up,
You don't look down,
You don't dare make
The rich boys frown
Bend your knees
And bow your heads
And tote that barge
Until your dead.

Let me go 'way 
From the Mississippi
Let me go 'way 
from the rich man's farm
Show me that stream 
Called the River Jordan
That's the old stream 
That I long to cross.

Ol' Man River, 
Dat Ol' Man River 
He mus' know sumpin' 
But don't say nuthin', 
He jes' keeps on rollin', 
He keeps on rollin' along. 

You know
He don't plant taters, 
And He don't plant cotton, 
But dem dat plants 'em 
They're soon forgotten, 
But Ol' Man River, 
He jes' keeps on rollin' along.
 
You an' me, 
We sweat an' strain, 
Body all achin' 
An' racked wid pain - 
Tote dat barge! 
Lif' dat bale! 
Git a little drunk, 
An' you land in jail... 

You know 
sometimes
Ah gits weary 
And we're all sick of tryin'; 
Ah'm tired of livin' 
An' skeered of dyin',
But ol' Man River,
He just keeps rollin', 
Ol' Man river,
He jes' keeps rollin',  
He jes' keeps rollin' along.