"Old Man River" (Show Boat) by David Velasquez

Old Man River blew me away when I was a teenager because it was yet another song specifically designed for the Bass voice. It helped me realize that I could still sing great songs even though my voice had changed. Sorry for being off tempo a few times. The track I used kept changing tempo on me, making it hard to keep up. 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' rack'd 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 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. 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. 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! Written by: Jerome Kern & Oscar Hammerstein II