OL' MAN RIVER SPEAKS

This is the preferred version:

 SOME OTHER VERSIONS: 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. Male Chorus: (Don't look up an' don't look down, You don't dast make de white boss frown; Bend yo' knees an' bow yo' head, An' pull dat rope until you're dead.) Let me go 'way from de Mississippi, Let me go 'way from de white men 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 must know sumpin', but don't say nothin'; He jus' keeps rollin' He keeps on rollin' along. He don't plant taters, he don' plant cotton, An' dem dat plants `em is soon forgotten; But ol' man river He jus' keeps rollin' along. You an' me, we sweat an' strain Body all achin' an' racked wid pain. "Tote dat barge!" "Lift 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 jus' keeps rollin' along. 

STANDARD RECORDED VERSION (without 2 verses on the beginning): Let me go 'way from de Mississippi, Let me go 'way from de white men 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 must know sumpin', but don't say nothin'; He jus' keeps rollin' He keeps on rollin' along. He don't plant taters, he don' plant cotton, An' dem dat plants `em is soon forgotten; But ol' man river He jus' keeps rollin' along. You an' me, we sweat an' strain Body all achin' an' racked wid pain. "Tote dat barge!" "Lift 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 jus' keeps rollin' along. ***Or as the first verse instead of the verse "Let me go �": Dere's an ol' man called de Mississippi Dat's de ol' man dat I'd like (long) to be. What does he care if de world's got troubles, What does he care if de land ain't free. (Contributed by Ferda Dolunay - June 2006)

Below is some history including the original offensive version:

Composer Jerome Kern and lyricist Oscar Hammerstein. II wrote the American masterpiece, 'Ol' Man River' with. the actor, singer and civil rights icon, Paul Robeson in mind.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ol%27_Man_River

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=454673079692361

OL' MAN RIVER -- Original offensive version of 1927,

From the Broadway Musical "Show Boat" (1927) (Jerome Kern / Oscar Hammerstein II) Jules Bledsoe (Broadway Production) - 1927 Paul Robeson (London Production) - 1928 Jules Bledsoe (Film Soundtrack) - 1929 Paul Robeson (Broadway Revival) - 1932 Paul Robeson (Film Soundtrack) - 1936 Kenneth Spencer (Broadway Revival) - 1946 Caleb Peterson (feat. in The film "Till The Clouds Roll By") - 1946 William Warfield (Film Soundtrack) - 1951 William Warfield - 1962 William Warfield (Lincoln Center Production) - 1966 Thomas Carey (London Revival) - 1971 Bruce Hubbard (Broadway Revival) - 1983 Bruce Hubbard - 1988 P.L. Brown (TV Production) - 1989 Willard White - 1993 Michel Bell (Toronto Production) - 1993 Michel Bell (Broadway Revival) - 1994 Mark Coles (London Revival) - 2006 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! **The lines "Niggers all work on de Mississippi, Niggers all work while de white folks play" were sung in the original 1927 Broadway Show. They were changed for the 1936 film version to "Darkies all work on de Mississippi, Darkies all work while de white folks play". By the time of the 1946 Broadway revival, the lines had changed again to "Colored folks work on de Mississippi, Colored folks work while de white folks play". And soon after, in the film "Till the Clouds Roll By", they had become "Here we all work on de Mississippi, Here we all work while de white folks play". ************************** STANDARD RECORDED VERSION: OL' MAN RIVER From the Broadway Musical "Show Boat" (1927) (Jerome Kern / Oscar Hammerstein II) Paul Whiteman & His Orch. (vocal: Bing Crosby) - 1928 Al Jolson - 1928 Paul Robeson with Paul Whiteman & His Orch. - 1928 The Revelers - 1928 Jack Hylton & His Orch. (vocal: Paul England) - 1928 Luis Russell & His Orch. (vocal: Sonny Woods) - 1934 Frank Sinatra - 1944 Frank Sinatra (feat. in the film "Till The Clouds Roll By") - 1946 Boyd Raeburn & His Orch. (vocal: Mel Tormé) - 1946 Al Hibbler - 1952 Martha Raye - 1954 Tony Bennett - 1959 Roy Hamilton - 1959 Sam Cooke - 1960 Ray Charles - 1963 Frank Sinatra - 1963 Charlie Rich - 1964 The Lettermen - 1965 Cilla Black - 1965 Pat Boone - 1966 The Temptations - 1967 Lou Rawls - 1968 Also recorded by: Jim Croce; Sammy Davis Jr.; Bo Diddley; Edmundo Ros; Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen; Melanie; Rosemary Clooney; Les Brown & His Band of Renown; Gordon MacRae; Cher; Les Paul; Bob Pearson; Oscar Peterson; André Previn; Robert Merrill; Marian Montgomery; Caterina Valente; Louis Prima; Denis Quilley; Della Reese; Roy Rogers; Harry James & His Orch.; Chet Atkins; Judy Garland; Duke Ellington; Stephane Grappelli; Lionel Hampton; Erroll Garner; Dick Haymes; Al Hirt; The Ink Spots; Percy Faith & His Orch.; Tommy Dorsey; Beach Boys; Gordon MacRae; Melanie; Howard Keel; David Kernan; Frank Sinatra Jr.; Glen Gray & The Casa Loma Orch; Roger Whittaker; Stan Kenton; Pasadena Roof Orch.; Glenn Miller: ............. and many, many others. Ol' man river, that ol' man river He must know somethin', but he don't say nothin' He just keeps rollin' He keeps on rollin' along He don't plant taters, he don't plant cotton An' them that plants' 'em is soon forgotten But ol' man river He just keeps rollin' along You an' me, we sweat an' strain Body all achin' and wracked with pain Tote that barge! Lift that bale! You get a little drunk an' you land in jail I get weary and sick of tryin' I'm tired of livin' and scared of dyin' But ol' man river He just keeps rollin' along *********************** 

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THE ROSE, BY AMANDA McBROOM AND AS PERFORMED BY BETTE MIDLER

• Some say love, it is a river
• That drowns the tender reed
• Some say love, it is a razor
• That leaves your soul to bleed
• Some say love, it is a hunger
• An endless aching need
• I say love, it is a flower
• And you, its only seed
• It's the heart afraid of breaking
• That never learns to dance
• It's the dream afraid of waking
• That never takes the chance
• It's the one who won't be taken
• Who cannot seem to give
• And the soul afraid of dying
• That never learns to live
• When the night has been too lonely
• And the road has been too long
• And you think that love is only
• For the lucky and the strong
• Just remember in the winter
• Far beneath the bitter snows
• Lies the seed that with the sun's love
• In the spring becomes the rose 
• Writer/s: Amanda McBroom 
• Publisher: Warner Chappell Music, Inc., Word Collections Publishing
• Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind 

WHEN I LEAVE THIS WORLD BEHIND

When I Leave this World Behind

Sung by Al Jolson. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pb-9lk249v4

When I leave this World Behind

https://digitalcommons.conncoll.edu/sheetmusic/1570/.  

Lyrics

1st verse:
I know a millionaire,
Who's burdened down with care,
A load is on his mind.
He's thinking of the day
When he must pass away
And leave his wealth behind.
I haven't any gold 
To leave when I grow old,
Somehow it passed me by.
I'm very poor, but still
I'll leave a precious will
When I must say goodbye.

Chorus:
I'll leave the sunshine to the flowers,
I'll leave the spring time to the trees;
And to the old folks I'll leave the mem'ries
Of a baby upon their knees.
I'll leave the night time to the dreamers,
I'll leave the song birds to the blind;
I'll leave the moon above to those in love,
When I leave the world behind,
When I leave the world behind.

2nd verse:
To ev'ry wrinkled face 
I'l leave a fireplace,
To paint their fav'rite scene,
Within the golden rays,
Scenes of their childhood days,
When they were sweet sixteen.
I'll leave them each a song
To sing the whole day long,
As toward the end they plod.
To ev'ry broken heart
With sorrow torn apart,
I'll leave the love of God.

Recommended Citation

Berlin, Irving, "When I Leave the World Behind" (1915). Historic Sheet Music Collection. 1570.

                                            ###

Joan's note:  My uncles used to sing this!

 

WINDMILLS OF YOUR MIND

Music by Michel Legrand. Originally Performed by Noel Harris

"The Windmills of Your Mind" is a song with music by French composer Michel Legrand and English lyrics written by Americans Alan and Marilyn Bergman.

• 
  

• The Windmills of Your Mind
• 
  Dusty Springfield  Songwriters: Legrand Michel Jean, Bergman Alan, Bergman Marilyn 
• Like a circle in a spiral
• Like a wheel within a wheel
• Never ending or beginning
• On an ever spinning reel
• Like a snowball down a mountain
• Or a carnival balloon
• Like a carousel that's turning
• Running rings around the moon
  Like a clock whose hands are sweeping
• Past the minutes of its face
• And the world is like an apple
• Whirling silently in space
• Like the circles that you find
• In the windmills of your mind!
  
• Like a tunnel that you follow
• To a tunnel of its own
• Down a hollow to a cavern
• Where the sun has never shone,
• Like a door that keeps revolving
• In a half forgotten dream,
• Or the ripples from a pebble
• Someone tosses in a stream
  Like a clock whose hands are sweeping,
• past the minute of its face, 
• and the world is like an apple whirling endlessly in space, 
• Like the circles that you find in the windmills of your mind. 
  
• Keys that jingle in your pocket
• Words that jangle in your head
• Why did summer go so quickly?
• Was it something that you said?
• Lovers walk along a shore
• And leave their footprints in the sand
  Is the sound of distant drumming
• Just the fingers of your hand?
• Pictures hanging in a hallway
• And the fragment of a song
• Half remembered names and faces
• But to whom do they belong?
  
• He: when you knew
• That it was over
• You were suddenly aware
• That the autumn leaves were turning
• To the color
• Of her hair!
  
• She: when you knew
• That it was over
• In the autumn of goodbyes
• For a moment
• You could not recall the color
• Of his eyes!
  
• Like a circle in a spiral
• Like a wheel within a wheel
• Never ending or beginning
• On an ever spinning reel
  As the images unwind
• Like the circles
• That you find In the windmills of your mind!

Hear this great song here:

https://www.thewindmillsofyourmind.com/thewindmillsofyourmind

And see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Windmills_of_Your_Mind  ###

THIS IS BAD STUFF -- I'M LOSING MY BRAIN!!!!

 I don't know where to put this. 

My brain isn't working!

My memory is shot!

I probably should start a new blog: Joan's Bad Stuff.  But that's too complicated now so I'll just put this here.  

I've missed important things like Prolia shots (for osteoporosis) that have left me with multiple vertebral fractures, deformity and pain!   

And most recently I forgot to keep a lovely luncheon date with my women law school classmates on September 5, 2023.  We still do this half a century after our school years together!  

It was clearly on my calendar but I totally forgot, and I wasn't there when one of my classmates so kindly came to pick me up!  I think I was just out taking a walk!  Or I don't even know what I was doing!

Elizabeth Bishop's poem One Art begins with the words  "The Art of Losing Isn't Hard to Master."    Here it appears she is speaking of the loss of a loved one, of a relationship. 

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/47536/one-art

But I am losing myself!   

                                                        ###

I DON'T KNOW NOTHIN' SINCE MY BRAIN WORE OUT

 I Don’t Know Nothing, 'Cause my Brain Wore Out!  

Tune: Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out!

Parody Lyrics © 2023 Joan Levin

Once I lived the life of a college grad, 

Had lots of friends and I was always glad!

Went to plays and movies, read lots of books, 

Dined at fine restaurants with very good cooks!

Then my brain forgot how to store,

At first it was just numbers, but then it was more!

Birthdays, anniversaries, name and places, 

Like a deck of cards, without any aces!   

(Chorus) 

I don’t know nothin’, 'cause my brain wore out! 

Under my hat, there’s just grey hair!

Aside from that, there’s not much there!

If we ever meet on the street again,

I hope that I would greet you like a long lost friend, 

But now I fear I’d just stare in doubt, 

You see - I don’t know nothing, 'cause my brain wore out!

-------------------------

This is based on:

Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out

Song by Eric Clapton

OverviewLyricsVideosOther recordingsListen

Lyrics

Once I lived the life of a millionaire
Spent all my money, I just did not care
Took all my friends out for a good time
Bought bootleg liquor, champagne and wine

Then I began to fall so low
Lost all my good friends, I did not have nowhere to go
I get my hands on a dollar again
I'm gonna hang on to it till that eagle grins

'Cause no, no, nobody knows you
When you're down and out
In your pocket, not one penny
And as for friends, you don't have any

When you finally get back up on your feet again
Everybody wants to be your old long-lost friend
Said it's mighty strange, without a doubt
Nobody knows you when you're down and out

When you finally get back upon your feet again
Everybody wants to be your good old long-lost friend
Said it's mighty strange
Nobody knows you
Nobody knows you
Nobody knows you when you're down and out

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Jimmy Cox

Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

THE ART OF LOSING BY ELIZABETH BISHOP

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/47536/one-art

One Art  BY ELIZABETH BISHOP

The art of losing isn’t hard to master;

so many things seem filled with the intent

to be lost that their loss is no disaster.

Lose something every day. Accept the fluster

of lost door keys, the hour badly spent.

The art of losing isn’t hard to master.

Then practice losing farther, losing faster:

places, and names, and where it was you meant

to travel. None of these will bring disaster.

I lost my mother’s watch. And look! my last, or

next-to-last, of three loved houses went.

The art of losing isn’t hard to master.

I lost two cities, lovely ones. And, vaster,

some realms I owned, two rivers, a continent.

I miss them, but it wasn’t a disaster.

—Even losing you (the joking voice, a gesture

I love) I shan’t have lied. It’s evident

the art of losing’s not too hard to master

though it may look like (Write it!) like disaster.

                                      ###

SCARECROW SINGS IF I ONLY HAD A BRAIN

I HOPE THIS CLIP FROM THE WIZARD OF OZ WILL OPEN USING THE LINK BELOW! SCARECROW SINGS HIS SONG: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nauLgZISozs COPY, PASTE AND OPEN THIS IN A NEW BROWSER! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nauLgZISozs