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Ol’ Man River

Paul Robeson
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OL’ MAN RIVER

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 the 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!
MISSISSIPPI

Tout le long, le long du Mississippi
Nous travaillons le jour et la nuit
Sous les yeux sévères de l'homme blanc
Nous faisons un labeur accablant

Nous traînons, coltinons
De lourds fardeaux sur notre dos
Pauvre noir fais ton devoir
Subis ton sort jusqu'à la mort

Tout le long, le long du Mississippi
Nous travaillons le jour et la nuit
Et il nous faudra toujours travailler
Jusqu'au jour du jugement dernier

Je voudrais quitter le Mississippi
M'évader de ce travail maudit
M'endormir sans soucis du lendemain
Sur les bords embaumés du Jourdain

Fleuve éternel roulant sous le ciel
Si tu nous disais tout ce que tu sais
Nous en saurions trop,
Tu roules sans dire un mot!

Et les pauvres gens, les bons, les méchants
Les arbres, les fleurs, les rires, les pleurs
Tout meurt tour à tour
Mais toi tu roules toujours

Vous et moi je sais pourquoi
Nous peinons, nous luttons, nous souffrons
Sans espoir et sans savoir
Si ce labeur cruel nous vaudra le ciel

Mississippi, vieux Mississippi
Toi tu le sais bien
Mais tu n'en dis rien
Sous le firmament, tu roules éternellement


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