Ol' Man River
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"Ol' Man River" (music by Jerome Kern, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II) is a song in the 1927 musical Show Boat that tells the story of African American hardship and struggles of the time. The song was first performed live by Jules Bledsoe in December 1927, and the most famous version of this song, one that is still noted today, was sung by Paul Robeson in James Whale's 1936 film version of Show Boat. Many musicians and musical groups have covered the song, including Frank Sinatra, and it is today a pop standard.
A parody version was performed on CBS Radio by Stan Freberg and Daws Butler circa 1960, entitled "Elderly Man River." The parody lampooned what would today be termed "political correctness" by featuring a prudish censor from the "Citizen's Radio Board" who repeatedly interrupts Freberg's performance of the song to criticize (and insist on changes on) the grammar and appropriateness of the song's lyrics.
Robeson's alterations to the song lyrics
Paul Robeson changed a few of the above lyrics of "Ol' Man River" when singing it at recitals, though never in actual stage performances of Show Boat. The changes are as follows:
1. Instead of "Tote that barge! / Lift that bale! / Git a little drunk, / An' you land in jail...", Robeson sang "Tote that barge and lift dat bale!/ You show a little grit and / You lands in jail..."
2. Instead of "Ah gits weary / An' sick of tryin'; / Ah'm tired of livin' / An skeered of dying'...", Robeson sang "But I keeps laffin' instead of cryin' / I must keep fightin'; / Until I'm dyin'..."
These changes shift Robeson's portrayal of Joe away from a weak character who is succeptible to the forces of his world, to one who is timelessly empowered and able to persevere through even the most trying circumstances.
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