Here we all work 'long the Mississippi here we all work while de white folk play pullin' 'em boats from de dawn till sunset gittin' no rest till de judgement day
Don't look up and don't look down you don't dast make de white boss frown
Bend yo' knees an' bow yo' head an' pull dat rope until you're dead
Let me go 'way from de Mississippi let me go 'way from de white men boss
Show me dat stream called de river Jordan dat's de ol' stream dat I long to cross

Ol' man river dat ol' man river he must know sumpin' but he don't say nothin' he just keeps rolling he keeps on rolling along
He don't plant 'taters and he don't plant cotton an' dem what plants 'em is soon forgotten but ol'man river he just keeps rolling along
You and me we sweat an strain bodies all aching an 'racked wid pain
Tote dat barge
Lift dat bale
You git a little drunk then you land in jail
Ah gits weary an' so sick of trying ah'm tired of living ah'm feared of dying an' ol' man river he just keeps rolling along