Ol' Man River

· by Jerome Kern

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Ol' Man River

Jerome Kern100 BPM

Ol' Man River

Jerome Kern112 BPM

Lyrics

(C)Ol’ man (F)riv er, dat (C)ol’ man (F)riv er; he (C)must know (F)sump in’, but (C)don’t say noth in’.

He (Dm7)jus’ keeps (G7)roll in’, he (Dm7)keeps on (G7)roll in’ a (C)long.

He (C)don’t plant (F)’ta ters, he (C)don’t plant (F)cot ton, an’ (C)dem dat plants ’em is soon for (Ebdim)got ten.

But (Dm7)ol’ man (G7)riv er, he (Dm7)jus’ keeps (G7)roll in’ a (C)long.

(Em)You an’ (B7)me,

we (Em)sweat and (B7)strain,

(Em)bod y all (B7)ach in’ an’ (Em)racked wid (B7)pain.

(Em)“Tote dat (Am)barge!”

(Em)“Lift dat (Am)bale.”

(Em)Get a lit tle (Am)drunk an’ you (Em)land in (Dm)jail.

(C)Ah gits (F)wea ry an’ (C)sick of (F)try in’, ah’m (C)tired of (G7)liv in’ an’ (Am)skeered of (D7)dy in’, but (C)ol’ man (Am)riv er, he (Dm7)jus’ keeps (G7)roll in’ a (C)long.

Ol' Man River by Jerome Kern — Easy Piano for Kids

This page shows “Ol' Man River” by Jerome Kern in our color-coded kid songbook view — every note is colored by pitch (red C, orange D, yellow E, green F, blue G, purple A, pink B) and the lyrics sit directly under each note, so children can sing along while they play. The song is in the key of C at 120 BPM, a comfortable easy-level arrangement perfect for first-time learners.

Tips for parents & teachers

Start at 50% tempo using the BPM control. Speed up only when your child can play through without stopping.
Turn on the metronome from the top bar to build steady rhythm.
Use the segmented OFF / C / 1 button to toggle note labels on the staff and keys — kids learn note names faster with letters showing.
Tap a measure number on the timeline to jump to a specific section for repeat practice.

Frequently asked questions

Is "Ol' Man River" good for a child learning piano?: Yes — this color-coded arrangement is designed for ages 4-12. Each note is colored by pitch so kids match colors to keys, no music reading required. Lyrics sit under every note for sing-along play.
What age can start with "Ol' Man River"?: Children as young as 4 can follow the color-coded notes. By age 6-7 most kids can play through the song themselves with light guidance. Parent help is recommended for the first few sessions.
Do we need a piano teacher to use this?: No — the color-coded format is designed to be self-explanatory. Parents with no music background can supervise. Teachers can also use it as an introductory lesson tool.
Can we print the sheet music?: Yes — tap "Download Sheet Music" above for a free printable PDF with the same color-coded notes that appear on screen.
What other Jerome Kern songs work for kids?: Try "SMOKE GETS IN YOUR EYES", "NOBODY ELSE BUT ME", "WHY DO I LOVE YOU?". All play with color-coded notes; pick a familiar tune to keep kids engaged.