Paul Robeson - Ol' Man River (Showboat - 1936) J.Kern O. Hammerstein II

From Showboat's 2nd version (1936) Paul Robeson - Ol' Man River
Ol' Man River (Jerome Kern - Oscar Hammerstein II)
Lyrics from the Original Libretto

Dare's an ol' man cal'd de Mississipi
Dat's de ol' man dat I'd lek to be
Whot does he care
iv de world gets trauble
Whot does he care iv de land lev's 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' racket wid pain,
Tote dat barge!
Lif' dat bale!
You gits 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.
[Colored folks work on de Mississippi,
Colored folks 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' dast make
De white boss frown.
Bend your knees
An'bow your head,
An' pull date rope
Until you' 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.
O' man river,
Dat ol' man river,
He mus'know sumpin'
But don't say nuthin'
He jes' keeps rollin'
He keeps on rollin' along.
(Long ol' river forever keeps rollin' on...)
He don' plant tater,
He don' plant cotton,
An' dem dat plants 'em
Is soon forgotten,
but ol' man river,
He jes' keeps rollin' along.
(Long ol' river keeps hearing dat song).
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, gits weary
An' sick of tryin'
Ah'm tired of livin'
An' skeered of dyin',
But ol' man river,
He jes'keeps rollin' along!

[@gabriellefdk]

Whos listening to this MASTERPIECE in 2024

[@blenaris1]

Me

[@stretchlindsay3547]

FCK KNOWS HOW I GOT HERE, but I am glad I did. G'Day from western australia

[@jdvcreative]

Me as well.

[@lizziedee7755]

I am an 86 year old white woman who heard this song when she was about 14 years old and I have never forgotten it or the singer. This was the original protest song. Greatness

[@veroniqueseguin114]

Me.

[@benwalker8474]

what a line "I'm tired of living, but scared of dying"

[@vulpesinculta3238]

Sums up the lives of half the world's population, no doubt.

[@angie6995]

I remember my gran saying that's how she felt (when she became bedridden). So pertinent for so many.

[@maskedsaiyan1738]

Ben Walker Yep.

[@miamimarauder6430]

Ben Walker its a true quote preparing for it but still fearing it

[@arielfruge1099]

Ben Walker me to

[@Thomas_H._Smith]

"I get weary, and sick of tryin', I'm tired of living, and scared dyin'" That line is 96 years old and still hits just as hard.

[@barbarastrayhorn4667]

True

[@MonkeyDToriko]

86*

[@Thomas_H._Smith]

@Monkey D. Toriko Well, no, because the play was written in 1927.

[@litepaw7]

I truly felt that...

[@lightbeing8174]

Thomas H. smith Now I know why the devil chose to sing this song trough the 1949 14 year old possessed boy body in saint louis missouri it's because of the line you reference it fits the devil the devil is weary and sick of trying i am tired of living but scared of dying.

[@geraldbelfer1564]

Paul Robeson had an extremely wide range of talent: He was valedictorian of his class at Rutgers University; he was a lawyer; he had a marvelous singing voice; he was a movie actor; he was an early civil rights activist; he was a college football all star; and he played pro football. Talk about versatility and talent!

[@killingmewillnotbringbacky9177]

And a communist!

[@marksqualberg1826]

he's definitely one of my heroes because of his devotion to every oppressed group

[@hckroess]

@@killingmewillnotbringbacky9177 Is that a problem for you? He was never in the communist party, but of course sympathized with them.

[@killingmewillnotbringbacky9177]

@DrZook jesus christ, all I said is what he is.

[@laughingsnake1989]

@DrZook only good commie is a dead one

[@alanwarner9124]

This country has never given Paul Robeson the respect he earned and deserved I will always think of him as one of my heroes.

[@kambibolongo7530]

He was a victim of McCarthy-ism.

[@user-ip2ci4ql8g]

Same

[@bigidiotdumbstupidguy9329]

He did subscribe to the Communist Party during the kindling of the 'Red Scare' and he was also in the wrong time to be the race he was. It was inevitable that he be sort of disowned or excommunicated, however talented he may have been.

[@michaeljackson4538]

Racism

[@monsieurboks]

Racism + Communism is one hell of a mixture conspiring against him.

[@GuarangaSound]

Incredibly sad. My granddad used to sing this. Even when he had dementia, this was something that stuck with him. We all sang it at his funeral rip

[@overcastandhaze]

Too cool. Much respect.

[@christopherreilly3282]

Liam clancy

[@alexhamilton219]

Guaranga Sound My grandad died in February and at his funeral they showed a video of him singing it when he was younger. I cried the whole time 😭

[@simonnachreiner8380]

F

[@1882osr]

What are you on about. A) There's nothing 'so called' about historical facts and B) This song was written for show boat in 1927... it was always about african-americans

[@chimpolad5064]

“I get weary, and sick of tryin’, I’m tired of living, and scared of dyin’” What a timeless line

[@chosenlight7289]

@Tweed Penguin lol it is always that one.... I guess today it is you 😒🙄😂

[@blumen9724]

@Tweed Penguin hater

[@benrogers5050]

@Tweed Penguin bro your life isn’t special, just shut up.

[@foxfire5092]

@Tweed Penguin notice how you’re the first person to bring up the word black. Homie was ITCHIN😂

[@bobbydwarika2537]

@Tweed Penguin what do you get out of being racist ? What’s in it for you ?

[@tahamohammad1741]

Paul Robeson truly a man ahead of his time, singer, actor, civil rights and political activist, top athlete, and Columbia graduate. He’s truly not appreciated enough.

[@frankward8336]

He was much appreciated in the UK

[@Martive_Led]

Paul Robeson graduated from RUTGERS not Columbia. He was the first black athlete to play football for the Scarlet Knights.

[@K4R3N]

Rutgers, not Columbia. Rutgers (Queens College) and Columbia (King's College) were both part of the Colonial Universities. While the others converted or remained private and formed the Ivy league, only Queen's College (later Rutgers) chose to remain a public university.

[@alanwhite933]

Back in the early 70s (In The South) our school had an assembly in the gym. The principal, an older black man who also sided as a pastor, couldn't get the students' attention. He always seemed kind of weak so, you have to know the students took advantage of him. In front of all of us (about 2,000) he started singing this with the loudest and most elegant baritone voice ever, eventually had most of the students in tears. It took about 10 seconds for everyone to quite down.

[@cindysnow802]

That's so cool.

[@stevoschannel4127]

That’s a wonderful story

[@davidpotts7116]

It’s a powerful piece of music that time and racially segregated America forgot. I’ve loved the song since I discovered it through Frank Sinatra’s cover a few months ago, and here I am now feeling more emotion from Robeson than I ever did when listening to Sinatra. I don’t know if it’s the old-time audio that I find is always easy for me to connect to emotionally or the knowledge this song was written in such a morally dubious time period, but I’m crying from it all the same.

[@tiffneyfairless569]

what a man he was

[@kathleenburns7732]

My God I wish someone would make a film like that. What a moment. I am now in love with that man.

[@beulahfuldreamer8369]

I drop by every so often to hear this man sing. 2024 now and still appreciate his voice.

[@TheIkaraCult]

Paul Robeson was a friend of the working man, he went to Wales and Scotland to support the Miners at the time. Thats even greater than his music. The man he was.

[@TyroneDaviesWELSHMAN]

Wales will always keep Mr Robeson very much in our hearts. He stood by us through thick and thin.. Supported our miners when no one else would. God bless. A legend.

[@stevev238]

And the Welsh miners in turn were to first to launch a campaign in his support when the US government withdrew his passport and travel rights. My dad ended up in a mine near Aberdare for 2 weeks after arriving in the UK from Hungary in 56, before realising he was too tall and claustrophobic for that job. He met Paul Robeson in Blackburn when he toured the UK- 1969 I believe.

[@susankennedy5739]

Thank you Ty and Steve, this is really impressive history. What an artist, intellect, and person!

[@CBordages]

When Robeson sang this in repertory, he changed the song to "show a little grit and you land in jail." He made his point

[@tmmartinesq.6216]

That was a true highlight of the Paul Robeson version!

[@atlanteum]

The lyrics have continually evolved as the years go by, and yes, Robeson was responsible for a number of those changes.

[@jilianjilianson7193]

"I'm tired of living and scared of dying" so powerful

[@clemdane]

Makes my eyes sting when he sings that

[@jmallett6081]

Very powerful. It is stating that we are not of this world, yet in a world ruled by someone who doesn't care about you or me. We are tired of living, yet afraid of dying because of giving up on the one that sent us here. It is not easy.

[@Each21]

What a place to be.

[@NOV123]

Sam Cooke!!!

[@jonathanjensen4193]

It's the final line "but Old Man River, he just keeps rollin' along" that clinches it. Our human lives are fraught with pain, misery and fear - but look at that calm river rolling along without a care in the word.

[@zahiddar3675]

Just reading about Paul Robeson's life. What an incredible man.

[@annweston2326]

I like this my dad used to sing it with a deep voice. Rip dad.

[@Bruce947]

another Leonardo da Vinci

[@Notmyrealname69420]

@@Bruce947 he’s my idol, Since I stumbled onto a documentary about him as a teen ironically from meming about the ussr anthem in English. Ive always felt like that’s a great comparison

[@robinndjavera5625]

Any books to recommend? thanks

[@eliseh.7474]

​​@@robinndjavera5625 Hello, Robin. There is one written by his granddaughter, Susan Robeson, which is titled "Grandpa Stops A War: A Paul Robeson Story." It's wonderful. Warm wishes.

[@kaustavisi]

I am an Indian. At least in two Indian languages Assamese and Bengali this song is translated - not exact translation but translation of the concept & the chords. Mississippi became Brahmaputra (in Assamese) and Ganges or Ganga (in Bengali) - two of the key rivers in the Indian civilization. The legend behind these songs, Dr. Bhupen Hazarika, was neighbour of Paul Robeson in NY while he was doing PhD in Columbia University. He was greatly influenced by Paul Robeson's protest music and adopted them in our languages. Isn't it beautiful how language of protest and mass movement against oppression is so same? Long live Paul Robeson, long live Bhupen Hazarika.

[@vcguerrilla6438]

Typical indians, stealing intellectual property

[@horplemctweenbot5259]

I never knew that! That's so cool! :D

[@aloh99]

Salil Chaudhary has done a Hindi version with ganga

[@kaustavisi]

@@aloh99 yes, it is word by word translation of the Bengali version. Kabiraj Pandit Narendra Sharma translation. He was Sanskrit expert, naturally Tatsam shabd are used frequently. So nice to ears actually

[@user-cc6gf1uu8p]

Indeed!

[@murihiku]

"I'm tired of living And scared of dying" That could be the mantra of the human species in this 21st century.

[@herautdeDieu]

+murihiku how right you are my friend!

[@herautdeDieu]

+herautdeDieu This sentence could have been incorporated in Fight Club .

[@evalavalle4592]

that's my whole life

[@taz-on-the-looseyusef5526]

very correct, im also tired of living but im not afraid of dying

[@sinjin4563]

nothing about human beings in the ''21st century'' is comparable to the lives of slaves with that line which is what the point of it was converying

[@youyong28]

Rhodes scholar, football star, actor, singer, writer...a true Renaissance man.

[@David-ko8hu]

Unfortunately he was ostracized for his communist beliefs.

[@David-ko8hu]

An aside, does anyone remember his cameos in the old Tarzan movies? He was always the tribal leader with the big voice. I

[@ghettowhiz1928]

Robert Francis and communist

[@youyong28]

I'm not a communist, but I don't consider it to be an insult.

[@erraticonteuse]

And a lawyer!

[@thatbird2]

My Dad was a huge Robeson fan. Love him fiercely. Years ago when the Sydney Harbour Bridge was being built, he came down and sang to the workers. Such a hero.

[@soooff1331]

It wasn't the Sydney Habour Bridge. It was the Sydney Opera House.

[@ericrobson4291]

@@soooff1331 liquid & liquors were not allowed on the harbour till completion/ robeson/paul/ forever

[@darrengill4765]

So was mine. My Dad loved Tenors!

[@HenryGerfin]

the entire family and friends doing today I really enjoy oldies song with mom and dad

[@KoushikPal]

Who is listening this song in 2020 ..like here

[@marrisapayton943]

He was a great man

[@lornakendle2564]

Me

[@johnhouston3192]

Me man me! I like this song also family guy does a very small snip it of it

[@katalinasztalos8489]

Me from Hungary

[@NumberOneFictionFan]

Everyone

[@altinfoil592]

Paul Robeson was an outstanding man. He went to Rutgers U on an academic scholarship, was All American in football and class valedictorian. He got a Law Degree from Columbia Law School, played in the NFL, and moved into theater, in which he made his reputation in England and then internationally. He became increasingly active in civil rights causes, working against the Nazis in the Spanish Civil War, and for the Council on African Affairs (CAA) in the USA. He campaigned against colonial exploitation of Africa. He met President Truman and demanded that Truman act to put a stop to lynchings, and Truman threw him out, stating that the time was not ripe to act against lynching. His outspoken support for civil rights and trade unionism led to his being harassed by the FBI and Congress who accused him of being a communist. Although there was no proof he was a communist, the FBI declared the CAA to be a subversive organization, his passport was revoked, and he was later black-listed by the McCarthy Anti-American Activities Committee. The FBI prevented him from giving public performances, and the black-listing kept him from movies and theater, so his career was trashed until the courts set aside the black-listing, and he made a comeback in 1957-58, but his health failed and put an end to his career.

[@cindysnow802]

Wow. I only knew him from his versions of different national anthems.

[@zwinakris903]

Thanks for all the information he was an icon ....what a man should be taught in schools ....he was such an achiever in all aspects of life .....he could be a hero an inspiration for some of the youth today .....a master in all fields...

[@BlackLoops]

I'm pretty sure he was an active communist activist, even went to Russia and met with Stalin a few times. While he was treated very unfairly by Americans for being communist and even by Russia (they killed his best friend and imprisoned another), he still supported the ideology. I wouldn't fault him for it though, the communist party was one of the first to support civil rights during his time.

[@PicoAndSepulveda]

Al Tinfoil Wow!

[@jonathannorton2931]

Nathaniel Smith not only did he meet Stalin a few times but he received the USSR Stalin peace award

[@louislark4506]

Brilliant singer, author, athlete, lawyer, humanitarian, language learner, clasical, opera, and folk spiritual singer. He is my hero as a proud African American because tenaciously defied all the racial and class barriers as he astutely focused on his goals and spirituality.

[@boxman7044]

He truly was amazing. No matter who you are I find it hard to believe someone can look at all he did and not be moved.

[@ebereokekeworships]

Paul Robeson a descendant of the Igbo tribe, it makes sense!

[@Nilkantha_Baul]

"বিস্তীর্ণ দু'পারের, অসংখ্য মানুষের হাহাকার শুনেও নিঃশব্দে নিরবে, ও গঙ্গা তুমি, গঙ্গা বইছ কেন...."

[@sanmitrabhattacharyya1185]

Aha😌

[@babeebaruah2676]

Dr Bhupen Hazarika he was.

[@Minime163]

I'm an owl paddy from Ireland and my favourite ballads are Irish songs of defiance, immigration and about the wild Irish characters but Paul Robeson singing old man river beats them all

[@davidskitmore1567]

I don't have many heroes.. but he's one.

[@poopstainhotdog1]

2:25 “Let me go away from the Mississippi, let me go away from the white-man boss. Show me that stream called the River Jordan, that’s the only stream that I long to cross...” So touching and sad.

[@antoniolewit7852]

my grandpa died and we had his funeral today. this is what they played at his ceremony.

[@peterhutchins9246]

One of the greatest songs in the history of musicals.

[@ckvlzlvxch]

One of the most talented people of all time - singer, actor, footballer, scholar, lawyer, multi-lingual. Inspirational. On top of that, he played a crucial part in the Civil Rights Movement. Hail Paul Robeson!

[@seemabasnet976]

finally i got this song........i heard this song when i was kid....

[@lylahsworld3930]

What other languages did he speak

[@davidmanhart1]

I still get chills whenever I hear Paul Robeson singing this. Wow.. That voice.

[@damjanjoveski2803]

+David Manhart I don't want to brag, but I can sing this too, but It was kinda hard at the start, but I tried it maybe 4 times, and now It's really easy for me :) The thing is I just turned 14 y/o, about 2 weeks ago

[@davidmanhart1]

Damjan Joveski Very cool!

[@damjanjoveski2803]

David Manhart :D

[@michaelgilmore735]

I LOVE OLD MAN RIVER! SIGN MG

[@jennymacallan9071]

David Manhart And that beautiful smile at the end...

[@ruairioceallaigh8882]

"When one senator asked him why he hadn't remained in the Soviet Union, he replied, 'Because my father was a slave, and my people died to build this country, and I am going to stay here, and have a part of it just like you. And no Fascist-minded people will drive me from it. Is that clear? I am for peace with the Soviet Union, and I am for peace with China, and I am not for peace or friendship with the Fascist Franco, and I am not for peace with Fascist Nazi Germans. I am for peace with decent people.'" Paul Robeson on why he was a communist.

[@zah936]

Thank you. I was trying to find this quora.

[@piranha5506]

Wow! Thank you.

[@willhelmberkly3025]

And where Sir would you rather reside today? Amongst the kindly former socialists of Russia and China or in the formerly fascist Spain? Robeson loved all the benefits of market economies he simply didn't care for the people that made it possible and so simply advocated for a change in the hand that griped the whip of authoritarianism rather then an end to the blows.

[@radot4642]

Ray Charles’ version is much better!!

[@HamPilgrimBL]

Sheer nonsense on Mr. Robeson's part. The Soviet Union's murderous history makes even the evils of Nazi Germany look comparatively lukewarm. The mass slaughter and repression against the Russian Orthodox clergy in the first 10 years of the U.S.S.R. alone was hell on earth. If Robeson was unaware of this, he spoke in praise out of ignorance and if he was aware of it, he spoke in praise out of malice.

[@priscillawatson7049]

this song moves me, every time I hear it! it's also the best performance so far in my opinion

[@patrickryan1515]

Try Judy Garland as well.

[@HenryGerfin]

Hello, how are you doing today and the entire family and friends doing today I really enjoy oldies song with mom and dad

[@pitmatix1457]

A great man who stood for the solidarity of the poor of all races and nations. As someone coming from mining stock he'll always have my respect for how he stood with the miners of the U.K.

[@susankennedy5739]

I love knowing that.

[@malclawrence834]

What a voice What a singer and what a song sung perfectly

[@LukeFaulkner]

*2019 and still listening. Great songs never die, but just keep rolling along.*

[@paulaporter778]

Appreciate the music

[@musiccollector]

AMEN!

[@ivelissediaz9583]

Make that 2023 and I listen to "Going Home". What a man!!!!

[@ianmorton4136]

Stayed in Bristol in 1951 when I was only 7 y.o. and was dragged along to the local cinema to see "Showboat", and was bored stupid until Paul Robson came on singing "Old Man River". It was the first time I had cried at a piece of music and the start of my love affair with the blues

[@enasJewaid]

Bless your heart

[@ildiphoenix]

In 1970 I come to Japan from Brasil and ended up staying,I went to a club and there was this Japanese man shorter than me but with a strong voice and singing Old man river ,I loved each melody the song the way he sing although at that time didn’t speak English and didn’t understand the meaning,each time I went there I requested this song ,after some years I myself become a singer of Bossa nova and standard song ,but never had the courage to sing this beautiful song on stage ,well I am now almost 72 still in Japan with grandchildren and I am still eager of living ,little scared of dying , And this song bring me many memories 😁

[@felipejose8834]

Queria muito ver você cantar essa música em português

[@Timliu92]

What a voice. I wish we have more basses and bass-baritones in the mainstream charts today.

[@Marcell0Bass]

Look up Geoff Castellucci and Voiceplay you’ll never listen to another musician or group ever agin

[@karilehrer4181]

You have to listen to musical theater for voices like that.

[@yorkshirethegreat]

There are many baritone voices around in contemporary music. Do you mean 2022 chart (pop) music or recent(!) music from over the pop music decades? Ian Curtis; Joy Division. Andrew Eldritch; Sisters Of Mercy. Leonard Cohen. Scott Walker. Sometimes you've got to push your own boundaries to find very different styles?

[@keving9233]

Wrong, @Marcell0Bass; Who I, for one, will never listen to again is Jeff Castelluci.

[@JRF1961]

One of the greatest Americans in history!!

[@NeuralNetProcessor]

What a voice. No one could have delivered these words more powerfully or more beautifully. What a shame that the world wasn't ready for Paul Robeson yet.

[@islanddweller4263]

The world was ready for him, but America wasn't. And even in 2023, America is not ready for him. That is why the teaching of Black history is being removed from schools and being replaced with an even more sanitized and white washed version of American history. That is why talk of freedom for white Ukrainians rings hollow to the years of many Black Americans. All lives do not matter in this country.

[@user-en4jm4ef7j]

Amen.😎

[@bubudehingia6250]

An Indian music legend Dr. Bhupen Hazarika wrote a song which is based on this song. And it is one of the most inspiring songs for the people of Assam, India. Coming here to pay my tribute to these two amazing artists and leaders that gives inspiration to all of us in many ways. Tanx a lot and Rest in peace.

[@jagjitsingh6755]

My tribute to both the legends and thanks for the great music, truly amazing.

[@arunchoudhury8284]

Bhupen Hazarika Was not just the most inspiring musician of Assam but of India if not the whole world. I am a British Indian of Bengali heritage with roots in Assam and I was was immensely fortunate to have listened to Bhupen Hazarila live in my younger days. The Bengali version of this great creation of the legend is '' Ganga amar ma padma amar ma.

[@hauaywkos6638]

@@arunchoudhury8284 The Bengali version is "O Gonga boicho keno?" /"Bistirno Dupare"

[@arunchoudhury8284]

@@hauaywkos6638 I realised the mistake almost immediately, single malt whiskey is at least partly to blame. Thank you for the correction.

[@sanghamitrachetia604]

It feels like listening to the legend himself. The same powerful voice, same angst and passion in the lyrics. বিস্তীৰ্ণ পাৰৰে was a piece of the world. All of His songs are choruses of humanity.

[@mijiyoon5575]

Paul Robeson was a lawyer ... actor, singer ... lawyer ... we should all be so talented

[@rbernard6685]

Possibly the greatest person America ever produced! He fought for the miners in Wales, the Jews in Russia, and his people here. He mentored Belafonte. He was a linguist (20 languages) and an athlete. His like will not be seen again.

[@user-ip2ci4ql8g]

Facts.

[@deborahmorreale9488]

Nobody has ever come close to the richness and emotion packed that Paul Roebson gives that song.

[@HenryGerfin]

Hello, how are you doing today and the entire family and friends doing today I really enjoy oldies song with mom and dad...

[@TatianaShakhova]

Дорогой, Поль Робсон. Как вас любили в СССР советские люди. Спасибо вам за ваш великолепный голос, добрую улыбку, за любовь к простым людям.

[@jodywho6696]

Beautiful song, sung by a beautiful man😊✨🇺🇸✨💙✨

[@HenryGerfin]

Hello, how are you doing today and the entire family and friends doing today I really enjoy oldies song with mom and dad...

[@WillyTheComposerOfficial]

I've never heard a song that did better job describing the struggles of the African American people.

[@overcastandhaze]

Could be used to define the struggles of anyone. It fits in their history much too well.

[@anyaw340]

Jdr Eldridge, The general themes of working hard/being tired, sure, but the song speaks specifically to being black in the Jim Crow South - and only people who have lived under similar states of extreme oppression could relate to that. For example: - "don't look up and don't look down; you don't dare make the white folks frown" (speaks to the tightrope that blacks had to walk when interacting with any white person - right down to not looking them in the eye - in order to avoid being assaulted, jailed, or lynched/murdered). - "let me go 'way from the white man boss" (the relationships between blacks and their white bosses typically had the same dynamics as relationships between slaves and slaveholders - even to the degree that many blacks were threatened with physical violence if they expressed a desire to leave and work elsewhere.) - "tote that barge, lift that bale; you gets a little drunk, and you lands in jail" (even though they were essential to the Southern economy (as during slavery) because they provided cheap, hard labor that whites weren't willing to do for such low wages, blacks were never allowed to rest even outside of work. They were arrested and jailed for the most minute offenses. Many "offenses" weren't even legally considered "offenses" unless the person committing them was black; those were known as "black codes".) So, while the song contains themes that we can all relate to on a very general level , it does a disservice to history and the people who actually endured all of these conditions to claim that this song can "define the struggles of anyone". That's just demonstrably false.

[@RisaGreen]

Have you scene the musical South Pacific that rogers wrote with Hammerstein? It's also about racism but it deals with racism towards Pacific Islanders

[@johnappleseed8369]

it's willy! hey man :)

[@bloodspilla55]

WillyTheComposer just say black people. African American is such a dumb term. We don't say European American when referring to whites do we?

[@Miranda9VM]

'I'm tired of living, but scared of dying.' Truer words have never been spoken. Oscar, you genius.

[@mychannel9965]

Who's listening this masterpiece in 2023 ❤

[@user-cc6gf1uu8p]

We are.

[@Shavi_Masee]

I liked it and realised it's 2024 😭

[@yungsnoop5317]

2024

[@angelslama]

2024 🙏

[@klarson8161]

Still listening in 2024!

[@someguy4653]

There's an old man called the Mississippi That's the old man that I long to be What does he care if the world's got troubles? What does he care if the land ain't free? Old man river That old man river He must know something But don't say nothin' He just keeps rollin' He keeps on rolling along But he don't plant taters And he don't plant cotton And them that plants 'em Are soon forgotten But old man river He just keeps on rolling along Oh, you and me, we sweat and strain Body all achin' and racked with pain Tote that barge Lift that bale Get a little drunk And you land in jail I gets weary And sick of tryin' I'm tired of livin' And scared of dyin' But old man river He just keeps rolling along

[@alastairjinks6966]

Different from the original score. Doing that for my first ever musical audition on Monday

[@theosymommy]

@@alastairjinks6966 How did the audition go?

[@alastairjinks6966]

Sadly no joy but possibility of ensemble for twelfth night, but whole festival postponed for a year due to covid19

[@theosymommy]

@@alastairjinks6966 sorry it didn't work out.. Keep practicing and doing what you love. You will be well prepared for next year..

[@alastairjinks6966]

@@theosymommy thanks

[@_mothmaam_]

Makes you cry. This is such a beautiful piece by such a talented man.

[@soulplexis]

goodbye caroline

[@gilormsplay]

Not forgetting that it was written by Jerome Kern, one of America's/the world's best songwriters.

[@gilormsplay]

And not forgetting it was Hammerstein wrote the lyrics.

[@alstevens7060]

Gil Orms I've heard it sung by other singers, yet it doesn't carry the same weight; instead a cheap showtuney effect rises to the top. It's Robeson's voice and rendition that propels this song to legendary status.

[@DBZrocksish]

Al Stevens I actually discovered this song thanks to Andrea Bocelli, but this version is also fantastic.

[@swsholdingeu]

Proud of this man, he was a rennaisance man. He did everything, and he did it damn well. Also, he came over to London and studied at UCL, UoL, SOAS and others! We have a memorial of him on blue british plaque not far from SOAS, just near T.S. Elliot's plaque.

[@redskies3000]

Props to Oscar Hammerstein and his amazing lyrics. Couldn’t be sung any better by Paul R.!

[@Juliaflo]

Props to Edna Ferber for writing one heck of a novel.

[@mindireich-shapiro6350]

@@JuliafloYes, but Hammerstein wrote Ol’ Man River in 1925, which was a year before Ferber’s novel was first published in 1926.

[@annmortimer1035]

When we were young we love Paul Robeson .he had that special voice .my cousin loved going to cinema very often .he thought Paul Robeson had some wonderful voice 🙏🙏🙏❤️❤️❤️Thank God for that man I still love to hear him sing ( old man River .may his dear soul rest in peace 🙏🙏🙏❤️

[@HenryGerfin]

Hello, how are you doing today and the entire family and friends doing today I really enjoy oldies song with mom and dad...

[@stevelee4952]

When I was 16, 52 years ago, my pal and I used to listen to this song, in awe of this wonderful voice. Two young working class white boys that have forever had this great man their hearts.

[@RebeccaBaker-og9yd]

What a song! Great voice for a century or so, and now.

[@HenryGerfin]

Hello, how are you doing today and the entire family and friends doing today I really enjoy oldies song with mom and dad...

[@RebeccaBaker-og9yd]

@@HenryGerfin fine. Love these old songs.

[@HenryGerfin]

@@RebeccaBaker-og9yd yeah oldies is life I love listening to oldies with mom and grandma and Dad they all love oldies nice meeting you where are you from???

[@HenryGerfin]

@@RebeccaBaker-og9yd how are you doing today and the entire family and friends nice meeting you beautiful lady where are you from please don't be offended I'm new here

[@silvrose1066]

Never heard a man who sang quite like Paul Robeson. Absolutely wonderful man, with a heavenly voice.

[@ef3371]

Hard to imagine this is coming up to 100 years ago. I love this man.

[@domnostromundi9650]

Woundeful voice....and as half a Welsh man I am glad that Mr Robeson and Welsh miners and choirs bonded.....they shared them same oppressors. This man was a true hero during a tough time for the black man.

[@antoineheisensperg9243]

***** That fact that 'everyone' believed in slavery by no means makes it right. If you're going to take credit for the supposed 'good things' the English have done, you may as well take credit for the bad as well. Considering that the English have historically had higher levels of illiteracy than the Scots (in fact, the English are still lagging behind in literacy), I don't know where the fuck you get off saying that Celtic cultures were 'primitive'. I'm sure many people (Celtic, black, and English included) would rather live in 'primitive' conditions than live under someone else' boot. If the English were so advanced, they wouldn't have participated in the barbarism of slavery anyway. TL:DR version u wot m8?

[@toothless9081]

***** no, not everyone believed in slavery, what a false statement. If that was the case then we'd still have slavery today.

[@rawwwrryy]

***** The Irish had forms of writing before the English even existed. The Irish also had complex governmental systems. Yet it was the English who felt they had the right to "civilise" the Irish by attempting to starve them all to death, ship them off as slaves to the colonies, steal their land, make their language and customs illegal and essentially ethnically cleanse an entire people. I will give credit to the English where it's due. I live in Yorkshire and I fucking love it here but if you're going to spurt bollocks about the Celts being "primitive" then you know fuck all. But if you're here to boast at how "superior" the English were... Is it any coincidence that most of the best regiments in the British army since 1707 have either been Scottish, Irish or Welsh? Or that the majority of the most important inventions were actually discovered by Scots.

[@antoineheisensperg9243]

Anthony Inger This comment is rather poorly worded. I thus assume that you are English.

[@domnostromundi9650]

Antoine Heisensperg Thank you for the comment Antoine et al. I shall strive to be more carefull when writing my comments in the future. No I am not English. Born and raised in the Caribbean in a former British colony with white Caribbean father and Welsh mother. However, rather than spotting 'typos' and grammatical errors in comments made, maybe we should focus on the what is being said: Paul Robeson and the Welsh miners bonded...because he (and they) realised that class issues and elitism are the real culprits of most societies....racism is a by-product of this.

[@susanmcginnes4422]

This version is so moving. I can listen to this version over and over

[@Allgracenoface]

Man …this song gives me chills everytime I hear it…but that’s one thing about Paul Robeson…he put passion into everything he made

[@johnschuh8616]

Over all a great performance. This version of Showboat was, IMHO, the best of all time.

[@ericrobson4291]

@@johnschuh8616 manic street preachers let Robeson sing/Paul Robeson forever

[@TheChannelTV-bt8em]

After examining all the contenders, this still gets my vote for the greatest musical moment in cinema history.

[@KaejaeDoherty]

Really...what were the other contenders ?

[@SpencerWarren-td2bo]

Absolutely! James Whale’s expressive direction is fantastic! Whale was the director of the film Frankenstein!

[@ArcolaBridge]

This is the Human Spirit! Feel it inside you!

[@bassman1ism]

when Paul Robeson came to the UK he was horrified at the conditions the miners lived and worked in.Now he was a great man and a powerful voice.

[@lenanebsager8276]

I'am celebrating my fathers birthday (who was born 1905 and left this world 1981) who introduced me to the wonder of music. Paul Robeson was one of many. May God's own country, Europe, my own Denmark once and for all embrace tolerance, acceptance, security, honesty, clarity, communication, courage and self-reliance . A look in the mirror tells the truth. Love from a Dane

[@HenryGerfin]

Hello, how are you doing now and the entire family and friends doing today oldies song is life and hope I enjoy it with mom and dad oh even with momma😢

[@sherirobinson5112]

I remember singing this as a small child... couldn't of been 5 when I learned it. My mom loved show music 💕

[@pamtebelman2321]

It's a beautiful song with a heavy message about oppression.

[@Foxsuper1]

same

[@nigelrg1]

I could listen to Paul Robeson forever.

[@NikoPorter]

One of the rarest and yet, most influential voices of the Harlem Renaissance and even of spirituals in general... Revolutionary.

[@evelynealfieri9396]

His Voice will Always Live !

[@footprints2111]

I've been listening to this song since the 1960s.

[@jamespowell1442]

Paul Robeson and William Warfield both have the best versions of this song,period !!!

[@oxfordye]

I could just listen to this song 1000 times over.

[@hayden101100]

no 6000 times hes that great

[@hybridgamer9029]

Then do it

[@ainsley2892]

I have to inasmuch I have to sing this with my robotic voice.

[@jacquesfede652]

oxfordye bu . g

[@elisabethaxelsson4736]

I crying every time i hear this song , what a voice he had.

[@HenryGerfin]

Hello, how are you doing today and the entire family and friends doing today I really enjoy oldies song with mom and dad...

[@billparrish9200]

I had a Math teacher in Ireland back in the 1970's who did this each year at the Christmas concert. He was a De La Salle brother around 65, and did it so well, a wonderful baritone. Brings a tear to my eye.

[@notmadeinchinafinds3116]

Such amazing lyrics, telling the long and painful history of African Americans.

[@carollipton4584]

With just a few sentences, manages to evoke the pain and suffering and incredibly hard backbreaking work of millions.

[@clintonleonard5187]

@@gabrielaponte6403 is "African American" not politically correct now? Or do you just mean they're not all from Africa?

[@gabrielaponte6403]

@@clintonleonard5187 no I just think its weird to call them African Americans because it doesn't contrast them with a African who moves to America these people have a separate culture and history , no doubt a very tough one but I think its more accurate and makes them identify as part of the American culture rather than this "other thing"

[@kaylao.3326]

NotMadeInChinaFinds And I bet you enjoy hearing about it too

[@notcardlinsytaccount1355]

shut up lol

[@evaheiser4083]

Was für ein toller Mensch Schauspieler und Sänger.Wir werden ihn nie vergessen.❤❤❤

[@omaralyafai2368]

I find myself listening to this over and over again. This is a masterpiece, robeson was a man underappreciated in his days but also, underappreciated today as well

[@esmeraldaweatherwaxe970]

a world that forgets a man like him yet hails a thing like trump is truly lost and in dire need of an overhaul.

[@janices6140]

This scene, in my humble opinion, is the best reason to watch the 1936 version of Show Boat directed by James Whale who also directed Frankenstein in 1931. 6'3" Paul Robson was a one-of-a-kind talent who only appeared in about a dozen films but was a sought after vocalist who performed all over the world. There was so much more to the man than a performer, though. He was a husband and a father and a social activist who championed the down-trodden masses. Altogether an extraordinary human being!

[@eric3844]

Paul Robeson is one of America's great heroes, and the fact he isn't a household name is a travesty

[@PicoAndSepulveda]

Janice Sims Agreed

[@akristen4971]

TY

[@lancecollins9278]

He also earned a scholarship to Rutgers University and was valedictorian! He was only the 3rd African American to attend Rutgers.

[@lraymysterio]

He has the most amazing deep voice ive ever heard

[@finnamcfan6054]

Someone has got to make a movie about this dude

[@wolfgangbrakhan3250]

Paul Robeson is one of the best singers in the world.

[@TrueNeutralEvGenius]

Absolute masterpiece. Yes I' am sick of trying I'm tired of living and I'm Feared of dying But ol' man river Keeps rolling along

[@tehreporter]

Paul Robeson has such a beautiful voice. Try listening to him singing "Let My People Go"

[@jimmitchell342]

Also, listen to that enormously powerful voice sing "ma curly headed baby " if you really want to be moved to tears.

[@petertaylor3600]

No, nobody was better than Paul Robeson in this. William Warfield was wonderful, but Robeson was superlative. God bless the poor old man.

[@IsThisRain]

I'm glad I discovered Paul Robeson. After reading more about him, I think that it is an absolute shame that he does not get an adequate amount of acknowledgement in American society today. I get goosebumps listening to this and Old Kentucky Home.

[@gmonkey6523]

It’s sensational. Was and always will be. RIP Mr Robeson from Liverpool UK

[@thewonderfulkushite9472]

One of the greatest talents I have been blessed to hear. RIP!

[@ibrahimaseck7893]

i can't get enough of this song

[@archstanton1733]

This was my Dad's favourite song. A real masterpiece

[@danymilanez4095]

I chose Paul Robeson for a black history month project and I do not regret it :)

[@dickrmk]

My childhood hero. My folks took me to see him do Othello. Victim of the evils of the McCarthy period.

[@sivamohansumathy2239]

Really. I have never met or talked to or encountered anybody who had seen Robeson's Othello.

[@aryarathne2479]

How old are you now?

[@PhilipJFry-ie6ql]

@@aryarathne2479 109 prolly lmao

[@hixidom2274]

McCarthy was right though. Didn't go far enough actually.

[@vladimirlenin3562]

@@hixidom2274 face the wall

[@philhersh]

OMG What a voice. What a talent.

[@glennklipp6398]

They performed Show Boat (from which this song is from) at our high school graduation dinner. When the man that sang it came out for the final curtain call, he received a standing ovation. I will never forget it.

[@AI-tc8fv]

Painfully saddening but captivating, the plight these people faced must never be forgotten

[@davidwalsh3439]

This is simply a performance for all time. Paul Robeson was one of the best singers ever.

[@emersongene1]

The immortal Paul Robeson!

[@tipofday]

This will always be the official version for me!

[@mharvinoyao]

it's 2020 and this still resonates loudly. we have never really moved forward.

[@lsmith9249]

Mharvin Oyao some countries are worse than others for racism, Africa should acknowledge that it played a part in slavery, and countries like spain, Portugal and Holland played a part too and modern slavery still goes on in North Africa, the past was acknowledged by the Empire and the commonwealth is very different were countries are equal and the all have the same rights, and yes there is still a lot to do, but you have come a long way, there are lot of black people in top jobs, Presidents, Judges, CEO,s Lawyers etc the list of jobs goes on and on I liked Nelson Mandela's attitude of forgiveness and moving forward

[@mutoromanof8487]

the gentle giant, the freedom fighter.

[@rosemma34]

massive respect

[@ashleypenn7845]

For some reason, I always listen to this song after having a rotten day.

[@shirleyward9217]

If I'm up late at night I often listen to a few songs and this is one of them.

[@ginamuharram2973]

Shirley Ward

[@LuvvStarr]

Ashley Penn lol sorry to laugh buy that's funny

[@karatekid6977]

This helps me through the hard times also.

[@patrickgunn5190]

Nobody can sing it like Paul Robert my hero

[@paulgriggs6236]

Wow what a golden deep rich rich voice so powerful fabulous voice WOW WOW WOW ❤️❤️❤️❤️