Lyrics:

Ol man river,
Dat ol man river
He musknow sumpin
But dont say nuthin,
He jeskeeps rollin
He keeps on rollin along.

He don plant taters/tators,
He dont plant cotton,
An dem dat plantsem
is soon forgotten,
But olman river,
He jes keeps rollinalong.

You anme, we sweat an strain,
Body all achin an racket wid pain,
Tote dat barge!
Lif dat bale!
Git a little drunk
An you land in jail.

Ah gits weary
An sick of tryin
Ahm tired of livin
An skeered of dyin,
But ol man river,
He jeskeeps rolling along.

[Colored folks work on de Mississippi,
Colored folks work while de white folks play,
Pullin dose boats from de dawn to sunset,
Gittin no rest till de judgement day.
or musical part]

Dont look up
An dont look down,
You don dast make
De white boss frown.
Bend your knees
Anbow your head,
An pull date rope
Until you dead.)

Let me go way from the Mississippi,
Let me go way from de white man boss;
Show me dat stream called de river Jordan,
Dats de ol stream dat I long to cross.

O man river,
Dat ol man river,
He musknow sumpin
But dont say nuthin
He jes keeps rollin
He keeps on rollin along.

Long ol river forever keeps rollin on...

He don plant tater,
He don plant cotton,
An dem dat plants em
Is soon forgotten,
but ol man river,
He jes keeps rollin along.

Long ol river keeps hearing dat song.
You an me, we sweat an strain,
Body all achin an racked wid pain.
Tote dat barge!
Lif dat bale!
Git a little drunk
An you land in jail.

Ah, gits weary
An sick of tryin
Ahm tired of livin
An skeered of dyin,
But ol man river,
He jeskeeps rollin along!