“Ol’ Man River” Sheet Music (pdf).
“Ol’ Man River” Karaoke (midi with lyrics).
Performer: Paul Robeson.
Lyrics: Jerome Kern.
Tune: Oscar Hammerstein II.
There’s an old man called the Mississippi,
That’s the old man I don’t like to be!
What does he care if the world’s got troubles?
What does he care if the land ain’t free?
Old Man River, that Old 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 plants ’em is soon forgotten,
But Old Man River, he just keeps rollin’ along.
You and me, we sweat and strain,
Body all achin’ and racked with pain.
“Tote that barge!” “Lift that bale!”
You show a little grit and you’ll land in jail.
I keep laughin’ instead of cryin’,
I must keep fightin’ until I’m dying,
But Old Man River, he just keeps rollin’ along.