[Verse 1]
Here we all work, on the Mississippi
Here we all work, while the white folk play
Pulling them boats from the dawn 'til sunset
Getting no rest 'til the judgment day
Don't look up and don't look down
You don't dare make a white man frown
Bend your knees and bow your head
And pull that rope until you're dead
Let me go away from the Mississippi
Let me go away from the white man boss
Show me that stream called the River Jordan
That's the old stream that I long to cross

[Verse 2]
I know that Old Man River, that Old Man River
He must know something, the man don't say nothing
I know he just keep on rolling
I want you to know he keeps on rolling along
He don't plant taters (Taters), he don't plant cotton (Cotton)
And them folk they plant them
I want you to know they're soon forgotten
But that Old Man River, somehow he just keep on rolling, rolling along

[Bridge]
You and me (You and me), we got to sweat and strain (Sweat and strain)
Body's all aching (Aching) and racked with pain
Tote that barge (Tote that barge)
Somebody said, "Lift that bale" (Lift that bale)
You drink a little scotch, I want you to know, you going to land in jail
[Outro]
You know I get weary and so sick of trying
I'm tired of living, oh, but I'm scared, I'm scared of dying
But that Old Man River now
I said he just, the man just keep rolling on