Lyr Req: Ol' Man River (from Paul Robeson)

Subject: Old man river
From: Bill Edgar
Date: 25 Feb 99 - 01:26 PM

I am looking for the lyrics that Paul Robeson used for the song "Old man river" I believe it was sung in the musical Show Boat before WWII.

My e-mail [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Old man river
From:
Date: 25 Feb 99 - 01:35 PM

Also recorded by Robeson on Victor 35912, (1928)

Subject: RE: Old man river
From: Chet W.
Date: 25 Feb 99 - 01:35 PM

Old man river, dat old man river
He must know somethin', he don't say nothin'
Dat old man river, he just keeps rollin' along

He don't plant taters, he don't plant cotton
And them that plants 'em is soon forgotten
But old man river he just keeps rollin' along

You and me we sweat and strain
Bodies all achin' and racked with pain
You tote that barge, you lift that bale
You get a little drunk and you land in jail

I get weary and sick of tryin'
I'm tired of livin' and scared of dyin'
Dat old man river he just keeps rollin along

For a different and beautiful version of the song, check out the one on the House Band album called "Pacific".

Chet

Subject: RE: Old man river
From: Joe Offer
Date: 25 Feb 99 - 01:41 PM

Click here for a rather interesting discussion of the song.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Old man river
From:
Date: 25 Feb 99 - 02:34 PM

Thank you for the tip Joe,

I was working in Chad in West Africa in 1979 and although this song is well before my time, it came most powerfully to my mind and I had to play (mostly hum!) it on guitar.

Last night I saw the excellent biography about Paul Robeson on Maine PBS and it made me think about when I heard that song in `79 so I just had to have the lyrics.

I have two African children, now teenagers, that my wife and I adpoted while in Niger and they are of course very much interested in Black history (as are we) and I will pass these lyrics and the sites that I have found on Paul Robeson on to them.

Thanks so much!

Bill

Subject: RE: Old man river
From: katlaughing
Date: 25 Feb 99 - 03:51 PM

Hi, Joe, thanks for the link to the previous discussion of this song. I was concert mistress in our high school orchestra when we performed this musical. It was a lot of fun and this was always my favourite song of them all, esp. to play on the violin. (Rich deep notes and lots of expresive bowing. My dad & teacher all swear I came from Romany blood; love to use the whole bow!)

I know it's a late date & you already addressed Pete's questions about anti-communism and Paul Robeson not being in our history books, but I'd like to note that there are many women, too, who've never been heard about. I do consider myself to be pretty "up" on such women, but my husband, Roger, was watching the "Wings" channel the other night and lo and behold, I found out a woman holds the record for several aviation categories including breaking previously established top speeds, etc. and was doing so clear up into her 60's or 70's. I didn't watch the whole thing, but was impressed with what I saw and, once again, incensed at how our history has been written in the past.

Her name was Jackie Cochran and she finally got a postage stamp in her honour in 1996. She was the first woman to break the sound barrier. For more info, I found this link www.usps.gov/kids/stompfeature23.html (Please note: I know I typed in "stompfeature"; that's the way it was when i found it. Sure seems like a typo, though, eh?)***grin***

Okay, no more soap box! Thanks for the memories!

Katlaughing

Subject: RE: Old man river
From: Bert
Date: 25 Feb 99 - 04:26 PM

Katlaughing,

Tell us about these women, in song preferably.

Lot's of great women are ignored.

Grace Hopper. How many of us stupid guys are out there pretending to program in 'c' when she gave us COBOL.

Boadicea. What a brave warrior, I wonder if I am one of her descendents - red hair runs in the female side of our family.

Betty Ford. Another brave woman. I would have kept quiet about it if I'd been in her position. How many people have been given the courage to seek help by following her example.

Bert.