OLD MAN RIVER
by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein © 1927
with some modifications of lyrics by Paul Robeson in 1936

Vocal: Michael
12-String Guitar: Eric

There's an old man called The Mississippi.
That's the old man don't like to be.
What does he care if the world's got trouble,
What does he care if the land ain't free?

Old Man River, that Old Man River,
He don't say nothing, but must know something.
He keeps on rolling, he just keeps rolling along.

He don't plant 'taters, and he don't plant cotton,
But them that plants 'em is soon forgotten,
But Old Man River, he keeps rolling along.
You and me, we sweat and strain,
Body all aching and wracked with pain.
"Tote that barge, and you lift that bale!"
You show a little grit and you land in jail.

But I keep laughing instead of crying.
I must keep fighting until I'm dying.
But Old Man River just keeps rolling along.