I was writing out some bills in my little office and listening to old Ray Charles records when Dottie unexpectedly showed up. (I bought a record player just so I could listen to those scratchy old records.) Ray was singing Old Man River and Dottie who is no fan, said it's no wonder you feel depressed listening to that. I think Old Man River is from the musical Showboat.

The chorus sings first: "let me go way from the Mississippi; let me go way from the white man boss; show me that stream called the river Jordan; that's the stream that I want to cross."   Then Ray sings: "You and me, we got to sweat and strain; bodies all achin' wracked with pain; tote that barge, lift that bale, and if you drink a little scotch, you know you're gonna land in jail."

Then he sounds like he's crying when he sings "You know I get weary; and so sick of trying; I'm tired of living, but I'm scared of dying, but that Ole Man River-- he must know somethin' but the man don't say nothin' -- I know he just keeps rolling, rolling along."   

I turned Ray off rather than depress Dottie the optimist. You either feel Ray in your soul or you don't and that's okay.    susil

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