Ol' Man River, 2007

Oscar Hammerstein, II
Amercain musical stage lyricist
(12 July, 1895 – 23 August, 1960)

This MP3 Selection Expired on 07-15-2007
William Warfield (1951)
Ol' Man River (Kern & Hammerstein)

Ol' Man River
Film: Showboat (1951)
Music: Jerome Kern
Lyrics: Oscar Hammerstein II

William Warfield and off-screen chorus


Dere's an ol' man called de Mississippi
Dat's de ol' man dat I'd wants 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!
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 rollin' along.