we sweat and sweat and strain
Bod ies all achin' and racked,
Tote that barge, lift that bail
You get a little drunk and you land,
you land, you land in jail
I get sweary, sick of trying,
tired of living, and scared of dying
But old man river just keeps
You an d me, we're sweatin',
sweatin', sweatin' straight
Bodies all achin' and a -rackin',
a -rackin' racked with pain
Tote that bar, lift that bill
Get a little drunk and you land,
you land, you land in jail
I get weary, sick of trying,
Tired of living, and scared of dying,
he just keeps rolling along.
One more time, boy I say,