There's an old man called the mississippi
That's the old man that I long to be
Does he care if the world's got troubles
If the land ain't free
Old man river
That old man river
He must know something
But he don't say nothing
He just keeps rolling
He keeps on rolling along
He don't plantators and he don't plant cotton
And them that ransom is soon forgotten
But old man river
He just keeps rolling along
You and me we sweat
Body's all aching and racked with pain
Tote that barge lift that bale
Get a little drunk and you land in jail
I get swim and sick of trying
I'm tired of living and scared of dying
But old man river
He just keeps rolling
Alone