Ol' Man River by Paul Robeson on Showboat 1936

Paul Robeson sings Ol' Man River (Showboat - 1936). I'm reading the book right now. Interesting thing is that Edna Ferber tells that Negroes (that's the way she says) use she and her to describe the Mississippi River and Indians use he and his. But Paul Robeson says: Ask the river. He (not she) knows everything. Ask the old river what he thinks He knows all about them, boys He knows all about everything Dare's an ol' man cal'd de Mississipi Dat's de ol' man dat I'd lek to be Whot does he care iv de world gets trauble Whot does he care iv de land lev's 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' racket 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 rolling' along. [Colored folks work on de Mississippi, Colored folks 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' dast make De white boss frown. Bend your knees An'bow your head, An' pull date rope Until you' 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. O' man river, Dat ol' man river, He mus'know sumpin' But don't say nuthin' He jes' keeps rollin' He keeps on rollin' along. (Long ol' river forever keeps rollin' on...) He don' plant tater, He don' plant cotton, An' dem dat plants 'em Is soon forgotten, but ol' man river, He jes' keeps rollin' along. (Long ol' river keeps hearing dat song). 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!

Channel: Music
Uploaded: November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am
Author: amarcord222

Length: 04:29
Rating: 4.98
Views: 133210

Tags: 1936  Man  Ol'  Paul  River  Robeson  Showboat  

Video Comments