Written by Oscar Hammerstein and Jerome Kern
Intro: C Am7 Dm7 G7 C Colored folks work on the Mississipi G7 Colored folks work while the white folks play C7 F Pullin' those boats from the dawn to sunset C Am7 D7 G7 C Gittin' no rest till the judgement day Em Am6 Em Am6 Don't look up an' don't look down Em Am6 Em B7 You don't dast make the white boss frown Em Cdim Em Cdim Bend yo' knees bow yo' head, Em Em7 F#m7 Cdim Dm7 C An' pull that hope until yo're dead C7 Let me go'way from the Mississipi A7 Dm Let me go 'way, from the white men boss Fdim C Show me that stream called the river Jordan Bb7 G7 C G7 That's the ol' stream that I long to cross C Am C F Ol' man river, ol' man river C F C Am He must know sumpin' but don't say nothing G7 Dm7 G7 C Dm7 C He jus' keeps rollin'; He keeps on rollin' along Am C F He don't planttaters, he don't plant cotton C Am C Cdim An' them dat plants'em is soon forgoten G7 Dm7 G7 C F C Am B7 But ol' man river he jus' keeps rollin' along Em B7 Em B7 You an' me we sweat an' strain Em6 Cdim Em B7 Body all aching' an' racked wid pain Em Cdim Em Cdim " Tote dat barge". " Lift dat bale " Em Cdim Em Dm G7 Git a little drunk an' land in jail. C Am C F Ah gits weary an' sick of tryin' a'm C G7 Am D7 Tired of living' an' skeered of dying' C Am Dm G7 C Fm C Dm7 G7 But Ol' man river, he jus' keep rollin' along C Am C F Ol' man river, ol' man river C F C Am He must know sumpin' but don't say nothing G7 Dm7 G7 C Dm7 C He jus' keeps rollin', He keeps on rollin' along Am C F He don't planttaters, he don't plant cotton C Am C Cdim An' them dat plants'em is soon forgoten G7 Dm7 G7 C F C Am B7 But ol' man river he jus' keeps rollin' along Em B7 Em B7 You an' me we sweat an' strain Em6 Cdim Em B7 Body all aching' an' racked wid pain Em Cdim Em Cdim " Tote dat barge". " Lift dat bale " Em Cdim Em Dm G7 Git a little drunk an' land in jail C Am C F Ah gits weary an' sick of tryin' a'm C G7 Am D7 Tired of living' an' skeered of dying' C Am Dm G7 C F G7 C But Ol' man river, he jus' keep rollin' along