| Old man river, that old man river | |
| He don't say nothin', but he must know somethin' | |
| That old man river, he just keeps rolling along | |
| He don't plant tater's | |
| And we all know, he don't pick cotton | |
| But them that plant 'em, are soon forgotten | |
| That old man river, he just keeps rolling along, oh, yes he does | |
| You and me, we sweat and toil | |
| Our bodies, all naked and racked with pain, now listen | |
| Lift that bar, you'd better tote that bail | |
| And if ya get a little drunk, you'll land in jail | |
| I'm so weary, | |
| I'm sick of tryin' | |
| I'm tired of livin' but afraid of dyin' | |
| That, that god-darn old river, he just keeps rolling along | |
| Keep on rollin' along | |
| Keep on rollin' along | |
| Old man river, don't you stop your way | |
| Keep on runnin' from the | |
| North, the | |
| South, the | |
| East or West | |
| You gotta roll it |