Today's Beautiful Gem: `Ol' Man River' by Oscar Hammerstein II.

"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' say nuthin',
He jes' keeps rollin', He keeps on rollin' along.
He don't 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' racked wid pain--
Tote dat barge! Lif' dat bale!
Git a little drunk, An' you land in jail...
Ah git weary An' sick of tryin';
Ah'm tired of livin' An' skeered of dyin',
But Ol' Man River, He jes' keeps rollin' along.
"Colored folks work on de Mississippi,
Colored folks work while de white folks play,
Pullin' dem boats from de dawn to sunset,
Gittin' no rest till de Judgment Day--
"Don' look up An' don' look down--
You don' dast make De white boss frown.
Bend your kness An' bow your head,
An' pull dat rope Until yo' 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, ..."

Note: Ol' Man River is one of the greatest American songs of this
century both for its poetic as well as lyrical contents. Listen to
this song from the well of a bass voice.

Om s'aantih: Peace! - J. K. Mohana Rao

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