Lots of old folks on the Mississippi
Lots of folks work while the white man plays
Pullin dem boats from the dawn to sunset
Gettin' no rest till the judgment day

Don't look up an' don't look down
You don' dar'st make the white boss frown
Bend your knee, bow your head
Pull dat rope until you're dead

Let me go 'way from the Mississippi
Let me go 'way from de white man boss
Show me dat stream that they call the Jordan
Dat's de ol' stream that I long to cross

Ol' man river, that ol' man river
He must know sumpin', but don't say nuthin'
He just keeps rollin'
He keeps on rollin' along

He don' plant taters, he don't plant cotton
An' dem dat plant em is soon forgotten
But ol' man river
He jes' keeps rollin' along

You an' me, we sweat and strain
Body all achin' an' wracked wid pain
Tote dat barge! Lift dat bale!
Git a little drunk an' you lands in a jail
Ah gits weary an' sick o' tryin'
I'm tired of livin' an' scared of-a dyin'
But ol' man river
He just keeps rollin' along!
(Let me go way from the Mississipi)