Ol. Man River

Lyrics: Oscar Hammerstein
Music: Jerome Kern

Played as an instrumental by the Jerry Garcia Band with Nicky Hopkins in 1975.

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 sumpin', but don't say nuthin'
He jes' keeps rollin'
He keeps on rollin' along

He don' plant taters, he don' 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' racked wid pain
Tote dat barge, lift 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 rollin' along

Niggers all work on de Mississippi
Niggers all work while de white folks play
Pullin' dem boats from de dawn to sunset
Gittin' no rest till de Judgement Day

Don' look up an' don' look down
You don' dast make de white boss frown
Bend your knees an' bow your head
An' pull dat rope until yo' 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

Ol' Man River, dat ol' man river
He mus' know sumpin', but don't say nuthin'
He jes' keeps rollin'
He keeps on rollin' along


 


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