I used Shana Redmond’s third chapter, “Songs of Free Men: Sound Migrations of ‘Ol’ Man River,” to annotate the lyrics of “Ol’ Man Rivers” on genius.com. I hope to share some of her insights with those who find the song for classes, whims, or by happenstance. Please visit https://genius.com/Paul-robeson-ol-man-river-lyrics to see how I use her arguments to augment how we read and listen to a song Paul Robeson made an anthem for people of rivers and times he would never see.
Citation: “Songs of Free Men: The Sound Migrations of ‘Ol’ Man River.’” Anthem: Social Movements and the Sound of Solidarity in the African Diaspora, by Shana L. Redmond, NYU Press, 2014, pp. 99–140.
