Well, I met her accidentally in St. Paul, Minnesota
And it tore me up every time I heard her drawl, Southern drawl
Then my dreams were back Downstream cavortin' in Davenport
And I followed you, Big River, when you called
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 that I cried for that woman are gonna flood you, Big River
And I'm gonna sit right here until I die
Well, she 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"
Picked up her trail in Memphis, but she just walked up the block
She raised a few eyebrows and then she went on down alone
Well, I taught the weeping willow how to cry
And I showed the clouds how to cover up a clear blue sky
All the tears that I cried for that woman are gonna flood you, Big River
And I'm gonna sit right here until I die
Now, won't you batter down by Baton Rouge, River Queen, roll it on
Won't you take that woman on down to New Orleans, New Orleans?
Go on, I've had enough, dump my blues down in the gulf
Oh, she loves you, Big River, more than me
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 that I cried for that woman are gonna flood you, Big River
And I'm gonna sit right here until I die