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 ol' stream that I long to cross

Ol' Man River, that Ol' Man River
He must know somethin' but don't say nothin'
He just keeps rollin'
He keeps on rollin' along

He don't plant taters, he don't plant cotton
And then that plants them is soon forgotten
But Ol' Man River
He just keeps on rollin' along

You and me, we sweat and strain
Body all achin' and racked with pain
Tote that barge, lift that bale
You get a little drunk and you land in jail

I get weary and sick of tryin'
I'm tired of livin' and scared of dyin'
But Ol' Man River
He just keeps rollin' along

You and me, we sweat and strain
Body all achin' and racked with pain
Tote that barge, lift that bale
You get a little drunk and you land in jail
I get weary and sick of tryin'
I'm tired of livin' and scared of dyin'
But Ol' Man River
He just keeps rollin' along