Old man river,
Dat old man river
He mus´know sumpin´
But don´t say nuthin´,
He jes´keeps rollin´
He keeps on rollin´ along.

He don´ plant taters/tators,
He don´t plant cotton,
An´ dem dat plants´em
is soon forgotten,
But ol´man river,
He jes keeps rollin´along.

You an´me, we sweat an´ strain,
Body all achin´ an´ racket wid pain,
Tote dat barge!
Lif´ dat bale!
Git a little drunk
An´ you land in jail.

Ah gits weary
An´ sick of tryin´
Ah´m tired of livin´
An´ skeered of dyin´,
But ol´ man river,
He jes´keeps rolling´ along.

Colored folks work on de Mississippi,
Colored folks work while de white folks play,
Pullin´ dose boats from de dawn to sunset,
Gittin´ no rest till de judgement day.
or musical part

Don´t look up
An´ don´t look down,
You don´ dast make
De white boss frown.
Bend your knees
An´bow your head,
An´ pull date rope
Until you´ dead.

Let me go ´way from the Mississippi,
Let me go ´way from de white man boss;
Show me dat stream called de river Jordan,
Dat´s de ol´ stream dat I long to cross.

Old man river,
Dat old man river,
He mus´know sumpin´
But don´t say nuthin´
He jes´ keeps rollin´
He keeps on rollin´ along.

Long old river forever keeps rollin´ on...

He don´ plant tater,
He don´ plant cotton,
An´ dem dat plants ´em
Is soon forgotten,
but old man river,
He jes´ keeps rollin´ along.

Long old river keeps hearing dat song.
You an´ me, we sweat an´ strain,
Body all achin an´ racked wid pain.
Tote dat barge!
Lif´ dat bal e!
Git a little drunk
An´ you land in jail.

Ah, gits weary
An´ sick of tryin´
Ah´m tired of livin´
An´ skeered of dyin´,
But ol´ man river,
He jes´keeps rollin´ along!