There's an old man called the Mississippi That's the old man that I'd like to be What does he care if the world's got troubles What does he care if the land ain't free. 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 them that plant em,' is soon forgotten But ol' man river He just keeps rollin' along. You and me, we sweat and strain Body all aching and racket with pain Tote that barge Lift that bale Get a little drunk, and you lands in jail. I gets weary And sick of tryin' I'm tired of livin' And scared of dyin' But ol' man river, he just keeps rolling along. Let me go away from the Mississipi Let me go away form the white man boss Show me that stream called the river Jordan That's the ol' stream that I long to cross. The long ol' river forever keeps rollin' on. The long ol' river keeps hearin' that song, You and me, we sweat and strain Body all achin' and racket with pain, Tote that barge and lift that bale, We gets a little drunk and we lands in jail I gets weary and sick of tryin' I'm tired of livin' And scared of dyin' But ol' man river He just keeps rolling along.