Фрагмент текста песни (в этом варианте):

Ol' man river, dat ol' man river
He don't say nuthin', but mus' know sumpin'
He jes' keeps rollin'
He keeps on rollin' along

He don' plant taters, he don't plant cotton
An' dem dat plants' em is soon forgotten
But ol'man river
He jes' keeps rollin' along

You an' me, we sweat an' strain
Body all achin' an' wracked wid pain,
Tote dat barge! Lif' dat bale!
Git a little [bad word] an' you lands in jail

Ah gits weary an' sick of tryin'
Ah'm tired of livin' an' skeered of dyin'
But ol' man river
He jes' keeps rolling' along

Вариант Paul Robeson'а, фрагмент из киномюзикла Show Boat (1936):
 [bad word] [bad word] watch?v=eh9WayN7R-s