Ol’ Man River Video & Audio

Paul Robeson’s performance greatly contributed to this film’s success and its lasting status as a definitive version of Show Boat.

This is a live stage performance that highlights Robeson’s pure ability to emote through song. It includes a bit of commentary about the lyrical changes.

Enjoy this seriously confounding video. What are they wearing? What is the theme here? What does Ol’ Blue Eyes know about picking cotton? We really don’t know.

It just gets more and more interesting the realm of pop re-makes of “Ol’ Man River.” This one, done with a bit of Temptations-style 5-part harmony, is actually really different and beautiful.