From Showboat's 2nd version (1936) Paul Robeson - Ol' Man RiverOl' Man River (Jerome Kern - Oscar Hammerstein II)Lyrics from the Original LibrettoDare's an ol' man cal'd de MississipiDat's de ol' man dat I'd lek to beWhot does he careiv de world gets traubleWhot does he care iv de land lev's free.Ol' man river,Dat ol' man riverHe mus'know sumpin'But don't say nuthin',He jes'keeps rollin'He keeps on rollin' along.He don' plant taters,He don't plant cotton,An' dem dat plants'emis 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!You gits a little drunkAn' you lands in jail.Ah gits wearyAn' 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.Don't look upAn' don't look down,You don' dast makeDe white boss frown.Bend your kneesAn'bow your head,An' pull date ropeUntil 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.O' man river,Dat ol' man river,He mus'know sumpin'But don't say nuthin'He jes' keeps rollin'He keeps on rollin' along.(Long ol' river forever keeps rollin' on...)He don' plant tater,He don' plant cotton,An' dem dat plants 'emIs soon forgotten,but ol' man river,He jes' keeps rollin' along.(Long ol' river keeps hearing dat song).You an' me, we sweat an' strain,Body all achin an' racked wid pain.Tote dat barge!Lif' dat bale!Git a little drunkAn' you land in jail.Ah, gits wearyAn' sick of tryin'Ah'm tired of livin'An' skeered of dyin',But ol' man river,He jes'keeps rollin' along!