Coloured folks work

on de Mississippi

Coloured folks work

while de

white folks play

Pullin' dose boats from

de dawn to sunset

Getting no rest till de

judgement day

Don't look up an'

don't look down

You don't dast make

de white boss frown

Bend yo' knees

an' bow your head

An' pull dat rope

until you're dead

Let me go way

from de Mississippi

Let me go way

from de

white man boss

Show me dat stream

call'd de River Jordan

Dat's de ol' stream

dat I long to cross

Ol' man river

dat ol' man river

He mus' know sumpin'

but don't say nuthin'

He jus' keeps rollin'

He keeps on

rollin' along

He don't plant 'taters

He don't plant cotton

An' dem dat plants 'em

is soon forgotten

But ol' man river

he jus' keeps

rollin' a long

You an' me we sweat

an' strain

Body all achin' an'

racked wid pain

Tote dat barge!

Lift dat bale!

Git a little drunk

an' you land in jail

Ah gits weary

an' sick of tryin'

Ah'm tired of livin' an'

skeered of dyin'

But ol' man river

he jus' keeps rollin'

along