Ol' Man River

by Jerome Kern
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Learn a simple version, phrase by phrase: the melody, then easy chords.

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Other arrangements of Ol' Man River

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Sheet MusicBar NotationSimple SheetLead SheetKaraoke · LyricsEasy NotesFalling Notes
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 — Easy Piano Notes for Beginners

4 people have learned this song

Learn "Ol' Man River" on piano with easy notes — perfect for absolute beginners. Large color-coded note names show exactly which keys to press. No music reading required. Key of C, 120 BPM.

Tip: Start at 50% speed to get comfortable with the fingering, then work your way up to full tempo.

Try other practice modes:

Falling NotesLead SheetBar SheetSimple SheetKaraoke

About “Ol' Man River”

Can I play "Ol' Man River" without reading sheet music?
Yes — Easy Notes mode prints the letter name (C, D, E…) directly on each note in big color-coded labels, so you can match colors to your keyboard without any traditional notation. The whole arrangement of "Ol' Man River" is playable in minutes, even for first-time players.
What key is "Ol' Man River" by Jerome Kern played in?
Ol' Man River is arranged in the key of C on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
What's the tempo (BPM) of "Ol' Man River"?
The arrangement plays at 120 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
Is "Ol' Man River" easy to play on piano?
Yes — this is one of our beginner-friendly arrangements with simplified chords and color-coded notes.
Can I download sheet music for "Ol' Man River"?
Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
Who composed "Ol' Man River"?
"Ol' Man River" was originally performed by Jerome Kern. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
What other songs by Jerome Kern can I play here?
Try "SMOKE GETS IN YOUR EYES", "NOBODY ELSE BUT ME", "WHY DO I LOVE YOU?". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
Can a complete beginner play "Ol' Man River"?
Absolutely! The Beginner mode shows large color-coded notes with letter names (C, D, E...). Just match the colors to your keyboard — no music reading needed. "Ol' Man River" is perfect for first-time players.
Do I need to read music to play "Ol' Man River"?
No! Our Beginner mode replaces traditional notation with color-coded letter names. Each note shows exactly which key to press. You can start playing "Ol' Man River" in minutes, even if you've never touched a piano before.