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)