Dere's an ol' man called de Mississippi

Dat's de ol' man dat I'd like to be

What does he care if de world's got troubles

What does he care if de land ain't free

Ol' man river

Dat ol' man river

He mus'know sumping

But don't say nuthing

He jes'keeps rolling

He keeps on rolling along

He don't plant taters

He don't plant cotton

An' dem dat plants'em

Is soon forgotten

But ol'man river

He jes keeps rolling along

You an'me we sweat an' strain

Body all achin' an' rack'd wid pain

Tote dat barge

Lif' dat bale

Git a little drunk

An' you land in jail

Ah gits weary

An' sick of trying

Ah'm tired of living

An' skeered of dying

But ol' man river

He jes'keeps rollingg along