Now I taught the weepin' willow how to cry 
And I showed the clouds how to cover up a clear blue sky 
And the tears that I shed for my baby are gonna flood you, Big River 
And I do not care if I’ll sit here until I die 

Well. I met her accidentally in St. Paul, Minnesota 
And it tore me up ev'ry time I heard her drawl, Southern drawl 
But then I heard that my dream was downstream cavortin' in Davenport 
And I followed you, Big River, ‘cause you called 

Then you took me to St. Louis later on down the river 
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 

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

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 weepin' willow how to cry 
And I showed the clouds how to cover up a clear blue sky 
And the tears that I shed for my baby are gonna flood you, Big River 
And I do not care if I’ll sit here till I die