Novel Soundtrack: Track 10

10) River Stay ‘Way from My Door by Paul Robeson

Event: The event that this song relates to is the hurricane towards the end of the novel. Janie and Tea Cake don’t think that the hurricane is going to reach their house so they don’t leave with the Indians and the animals. Instead, they stay at home. Once they see the waters rising, they realize that they have made a mistake and that they must leave or they will die.

Lyrics:

You're just a lonely little river,

But I have heard somebody say

That someday you may

Squeeze my home away.

So roll along you lonely river

And find your way to the sea,

I don't bother you,

Don't you bother me!

You keep goin' your way,

I'll keep goin' my way,

River, stay 'way from my door!

I just got a cabin,

You don't need a cabin,

River, stay 'way from my door!

Don't come up any higher,

I'm so all alone.

Leave my bed and my fire,

That's all I'll ever own!

I ain't breakin' your heart,

Don't start breakin' my heart,

River, stay 'way from my door!