Well, 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 I cried for that man, they're gonna flood you, Big River
Well, I'm gonna sit right here until I die

Now I met him accidentally in St. Paul Minnesota
And it tore me up ev'ry time I heard his drawl as Southern Drawl
Then I heard my dream, went back downstream cavortin' in Davenport
And I followed you, Big River, when you called

Then you took me to St. 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 bluff
She raised a few eyebrows and went on down alone

Well, I pulled into Natchez next day down the river
But there wasn't that much to make a rounder stay very long
When I left it was rainin', so nobody saw me cry
Big River, why are you doin' me this way

Now, won't you batter down by Baton Rouge, River Queen, rollin' on
And take that man on down to New Orleans, I said, New Orleans
With the, I've had enough, with my blues down in the gulf
Yeah, he loves you, Big River, more than me

Yeah, 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 I cried for that woman were gonna flood you Big River
And I'm gonna sit right here until I die

Yeah, now I'm gonna sit right here until I die, until I die
That's right