Here we all work along the mississippi
Here we all work while the white folk play
Pulling them boats from the dawn till sunset
Getting no rest till the judgment day
Don't look up and don't look down
You don't das make the wide boss frown
Bend your knees and bow your head
And pull that rope until your dead
Let me go away from the mississippi
Let me go away from the white man boss
Show me that stream called the river jordan
That's the old stream that i long to cross
Ol man river that ol man river
He must no something
But he don't say nothing
He just keeps rolling he keeps on rolling along
He don't plant tatters and he don't plant cotton
And them what plants em are soon forgotten
But ol man river just keeps rolling along
You and me we sweat and strain
Body all aching and racked with pain
Tote that barge and lift that bail
You get a little drunk and you lands in jail
I gets weary and sick of trying
I'm tired of living but i'm sike of dying
But ol man river he just keeps roling along
