(C)Here we all work on de Mis sis (F)sip pi, (C)here we all work while de white (D7)folks (G7)play,

(C)pull in’ dose boats from de (C7)dawn to (F)sun set, (C)get tin’ no (Am)rest till de (D7)judge (G7)ment (C)day.

(Em)Don’t look (B7)up an’ (Em)don’t look (B7)down, you (Em)don’t dast (B7)make de (Em)white boss (B7)frown.

(Em)Bend yo’ (Am6)knees an’ (Em)bow yo’ (Am6)head, an’ (Em)pull dat (Am6)rope un (Em)til yo’re (Dm7)dead.

(C7)Let me go ’way from de Mis sis (F)sip pi, (A7)let me go ’way from de white men (Dm)boss, (Ddim)show me dat stream called de riv er (C)Jor dan, (Bb7)dat’s de ol’ stream dat I long (G7)to (C)cross.

(C)Ol’ man (Am)riv er.

dat (C)ol’ man (F)riv er, he (C)must know (F)sump in’, but (Am7)don’t say noth in’.

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

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

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

(Em)You an’ (B7)me,

we (Em)sweat an’ (B7)strain,

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

(Em)“Tote (Am6)dat barge!”

(Em)“Lift dat (Am6)bale.”

(Am)Git a lit tle (Am6)drunk an’ you (G7)land in jail.

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