kern • hammerstein
Based on the novel "Show Boat" (1926) by Edna Ferber, a musical in two acts with the same name was made the following year. The intention was to make a "different" musical, and sure they succeded. The composer Jerome Kern caught the idea, and collaborated with Oscar Hammerstein II for the lyrics and Florenz Ziegfeld on production. 22 songs were included, 2 of them with music and lyrics by Joseph E. Howard ("Goodbye, My Lady Love") or Charles K. Harris ("After the Ball"). Only 2 of the original songs have survived *all* the shows and movies through the years: "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man" and "Ol' Man River". The latter remains a classic lament, more than ninety years after the release, for several reasons.
The musical was "different" because it brought prejudice and social matters to the entertainment scene. "Ol' Man River" was different for three reasons: describing unbearable working conditions without being a "blues", unusual rhythm pattern and the bass solo vocal.
The song rapidly gained popularity, and was during the next decade recorded by several artists. Most prominent are Paul Robeson (who K&H had in mind composing the song), Al Jolson and William Warfield. Lighter and truncated versions vere made by Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra. Because of it's qualities, it was also recorded by tenor singers and groups. Even women: never heard Judy Garland or Caterina Valente perform this, and I never will: I expect it to be like *me* grumbling "Wuthering Heights" ...
I bring to you the original libretto. The parts within brackets are sung by a choir, not solo, but they ought to be if the choir doesn't show up for the session. And I leave the "n"-word unchanged, though it's mainly been altered with more political correct phrases: as a white man in the middle east, I accepted folks calling me "khawaga", which is not exactly polite. In 1927, a black man was a "nigger", like Hammerstein wrote down. He still is, and ought to be proud of it. I don't fancy painting the history.
dere's an ol' man called de Mississippi
dat's de ol' man dat I'd like to be
what does he care if de world's got troubles
what does he care if de land ain't free
ol' man river • dat ol' man river
he mus' know sumpin' but don't say nuthin'
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 drunk 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 ...
niggers all work on de Mississippi
niggers all work while de white folks play
pullin' dose boats from de dawn to sunset
gittin' no rest till de judgement day
[don't look up an' don't look down
you don' dar'st make de white boss frown
bend your knees an' bow your head
an' pull dat rope until you're dead)]
let me go 'way from de Mississippi
let me go 'way from de white man boss
show me dat stream called de river Jordan
dat's de ol' stream dat I long to cross
[ol' man river • dat ol' man river
he mus' know sumpin', but don't say nothin'
he just keeps rollin'
he keeps on rollin' along]
long, low river
forever keeps rollin'
[don' plant taters, he don' plant cotton
and dem dat plants' em is soon forgotten
but ol' man river
he jes' keeps rollin' along]
long low river
keeps singin' dis song
you an' me we sweat an' strain
body all achin' and wracked wid pain
"tote dat barge! Lift dat bale!
git a little drunk and ya lands in jail"
ah gits weary an' sick o' tryin'
ah'm tired o' livin' an' skeered o' dyin'
but ol' man river
he jes' keeps rollin' along ...
For the following CHORD section, fullscreen/horizontal mobile is recommended.
Chords in brackets may be omitted.
G C dere's an ol' man called de Mississippi G Em D dat's de ol' man dat I'd like to be Em Am what does he care if de world's got troubles Em C D7 G ...D7 what does he care if de land ain't free G Em G C ol' man river dat ol' man river G C Bm E7 he mus' know sumpin' but don't say nuthin' Bm D7 he jes' keeps rollin' D D7 D6 D7 G he keeps on rollin' along G Em G C he don' plant taters he don't plant cotton Bm E7 Em A7 an' dem dat plants' em is soon forgotten Bm D7 but ol'man river D D7 D6 D7 G he jes' keeps rollin' along Bm Em Bm Em you an' me we sweat an' strain Bm Em Bm Em body all achin' an' wracked wid pain Bm F#7 Bm F#7 tote dat barge lif' dat bale Bm F#7 Bm D ...D7 git a little drunk an' you lands in jail G Em G C ah gits weary an' sick of tryin' Em E7 Em A7 ah'm tired of livin' an' skeered of dyin' Bm D7 but ol' man river D D7 D6 D7 G he jes' keeps rolling' along [final] G C but ol' man river G Em D7sus4 D7 G he jes' keeps rolling' along
