Funny you should comment in the altered lyrics in "Ol' Man River," as I'm currently reading Todd Decker's excellent WHO SHOULD SING "OL' MAN RIVER"?--a detailed performance history of the piece. Paul Robeson, for whom the song was originally intended (though he wasn't the first Joe), first began revising the lyrics in 1937, singing "I must keep on struggling unti I'm dyin'," then "I must keep fightin'" in 1938, which became his preferred version. This marked the start of Robeson using the song in a political context. Later changes would have him singing "That's the old man I DON'T like to be," and altering "but Ol' Man River" to "AND Ol' Man River, he jest keeps rollin' along." Hammerstein wrote, "I see by the papers that Paul Robeson believes that the words of "Ol' Man River" should be changed. As the author of these words, I should like it known that I have no intention of changing them or permitting anyone else to change them. I further suggest that Pail write his own songs and leave mine alone."
What I find odd about the changes in PRINCE OF BROADWAY is that for Prince's SHOW BOAT, the lyrics for that verse are the original (at least on the cast album),
Laura |
