Page type: lyric reference
Artist: Lou Rawls
Canonical path: /lou-rawls-musicas/ol-man-river
Related lyric paths: 6
Video embedded: yes
Lyric guide
Ol' Man River
Read Ol' Man River lyrics by Lou Rawls on LyroVerse, with linked artist context and related song paths.
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Lyrics
Ol' Man River
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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'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' wracked wid pain,
Tote dat barge! Lif' dat bale!
Git a little drunk an' you lands 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
Niggers all work on de Mississippi**
Niggers all work while de white folks play**
Pullin' dose boats from de dawn to sunset
Gittin' no rest till de judgement day
(Don't look up an' don't look down)
(You don' dar'st make de white boss frown)
(Bend your knees an' bow your head)
(An' pull dat rope until you're 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 nothin')
(He just keeps rollin')
(He keeps on rollin' along)
Long, low river
Forever keeps rollin'
(Don' plant taters, he don' plant cotton)
(And dem dat plants' em is soon forgotten)
(But ol' man river
(He jes' keeps rollin' along)
Long low river
Keeps singin' dis song
You an' me, we sweat an' strain
Body all achin' and wracked wid pain
Tote dat barge! Lift dat bale!
Git a little drunk and ya lands in jail
Ah gits weary an' sick o' tryin'
Ah'm tired o livin' an' skeered o' dyin'
But ol' man river
He jes' keeps rollin' along!
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Who performs "Ol' Man River"?
Lou Rawls performs "Ol' Man River", and this lyric page sits inside the Lou Rawls catalog on LyroVerse.
Are there related songs to explore after "Ol' Man River"?
Yes. The related section below points to Nice 'N' Easy and (I'm Your) Hoochie Coochie Man with a short reason for opening each page next.
Where can I find more songs by Lou Rawls?
Use the artist link near the top of the page or the related paths section below to keep moving through Lou Rawls's lyric pages.
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