“Ol’ Man River” by Paul Robeson and Paul Whiteman (1928)

MUSIC VIDEO

*Note that the original performance referenced below was not recorded on video and so a later cover has been provided.

LYRICS

Ol' man river
That ol' man river
He don't say nothing
But he must know something
Cause he just keeps rolling
He keeps rolling along
Rollin' along
He don't plant tators
He don't plant cotton
Them that plants 'em is soon forgotten
But ol' man river
He keeps rolling along
You and me
We sweat and strain
Body all aching
And wracked with pain
Tote that barge
Lift that bale
Get a little drunk
And you land in jail
I gets weary
Sick of trying
I'm tired of living
Feared of dying
But ol' man river
He's rolling along

ANALYSIS
             “Ol’ Man River” was originally written for the musical Showboat, which centers on life along the Mississippi River. Paul Whiteman, who with his orchestra performed the instrumental of the piece, was controversial in the jazz world despite being one of its early bandleaders. Like many other prominent white jazz musicians, Whiteman was criticized for co-opting African American music for profit (“The Devil’s…” 2001). However, he did take lengths to work with African American performers when possible, such as recording this song with Paul Robeson. As for Robeson, he was already successful on the stage despite the racism prevalent at the time, and “Robeson's success was a mirror of the determined defiance in the face of oppressive circumstances expressed in the song.” (Simon 2003). Although the lyrics may sound depressing, what with lines like, “I gets weary / Sick of trying / I'm tired of living / Feared of dying,” the song is performed with joy both vocally and instrumentally at the end. The final lines, “But ol’ man river / He’s rolling along,” embody this mix of hope and despair that made the song so popular (“Paul Whiteman” 2016). Despite all that the narrator is up against, the world keeps moving on, perhaps bringing with it a new and better day.

WORKS CITED
“Paul Whiteman – Ol' Man River.” Genius, Dec. 2016,
             genius.com/Paul-whiteman-ol-man-river-lyrics.Simon, Scott.
“'Ol' Man River': An American Masterpiece.” NPR, NPR, 31 May 2003,
             www.npr.org/2003/05/31/1279965/ol-man-river-an-american-masterpiece.
“The Devil's Music: 1920's Jazz.” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, Feb. 2001,
             www.pbs.org/wgbh/cultureshock/beyond/jazz.html.