Ol' Man River
Here we all work 'long the MississippiHere we all work while the white folk playPullin' them boats from the dawn till sunsetGettin' no rest till the judgment day
Don't look up and don't look downYou don't dare make the white boss frownBend your knees and bow your headAnd pull that rope until you're dead
Ol' Man River, that Ol' Man RiverHe must know somethin', but he don't say nothin'He just keeps rollin', he keeps on rollin' along
He don't plant taters, and he don't plant cottonAnd them what plants 'em is soon forgottenBut Ol' Man River, he just keeps rollin' along
You and me, we sweat and strainBodies all achin' and wracked with painTote that barge and lift that baleGet a little drunk and you lands in jail
I gets weary and sick of tryin'I'm tired of livin', but feared of dyin'And Ol' Man River, he just keeps rollin' along