Now I taught the weeping willow how to cry And I showed the clouds how to cover up a clear blue sky And the tears that I cried for that woman are gonna flood you Big River Then I'm gonna sit right here until I die I met her accidentally in Saint Paul (Minnesota) And it tore me up every time I heard her drawl, Southern drawl Then I heard my dream was back Downstream cavortin' in Davenport And I followed you, Big River, when you called Then you took me to Saint Louis later on (down the river) A freighter said she's been here but she's gone, boy, she's gone I found her trail in Memphis, but she just walked up the block She raised a few eyebrows and then she went on down alone Now, won't you batter down by Baton Rouge, River Queen, roll it on Take that woman on down to New Orleans, New Orleans Go on, I've had enough, dump my blues down in the gulf She loves you, Big River, more than me Now I taught the weeping willow how to cry, cry, cry And I showed the clouds how to cover up a clear blue sky And the tears that I cried for that woman are gonna flood you Big River Then I'm gonna sit right here until I die