Paul Robeson

Paul Robeson (1898-1973) was an African American actor, singer, athlete, lawyer and activist. Robeson was the first major concert star to make the performance of "negro spirituals" popular. Because Robeson was active in trade unions and fought against racism and fascism, he was a target during the anti-Communist scare in the United States in the 1940's and 1950's. His name was put on a "black list" and he was unable to find work. Here is a clip from a musical called "Showboat". You can read the lyrics of the song below. The song is called Old Man River. It is a song about how hard black people had to work and struggle.



Ol man river,
that ol' man river
He must know something
But don't say nothing,
He just keeps rolling
He keeps on rolling along.

He don't plant taters (potatoes),
He don't plant cotton,
And them that plants them
is soon forgotten,
But ol'man river,
He just keeps rollin'along.

You and me, we sweat and strain,
Body all aching and racked with pain,
Tote that barge!
Lift that bale!
Get a little drunk
And you land in jail.

I get weary
And sick of trying
I'm tired of living
And scared of dying,
But ol' man river,
He just keeps rolling along.

[Colored folks work on the Mississippi,
Colored folks work while the white folks play,
Pulling those boats from the dawn to sunset,
Gitting no rest till the judgement day.]

Don't look up
And don't look down,
You don't dast make
the white boss frown.
Bend your knees
And bow your head,
And pull that rope
Until you' dead.)

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 ol' stream that I long to cross.

O' man river,
That ol' man river,
He must know something
But don't say nothing
He just keeps rolling
He keeps on rollin' along.

Long ol' river forever keeps rollin' on...

He don't plant tater,
He don't plant cotton,
And them that plants 'em
Is soon forgotten,
but ol' man river,
He just keeps rollin' along.

Long ol' river keeps hearing that song.
You and me, we sweat and strain,
Body all aching ang racked with pain.
Tote that barge!
Lift that bale!
Get a little drunk
And you land in jail.

Ah, get weary
And sick of trying
I'm tired of living
And scared of dying,
But ol' man river,
He just keeps rolling along!