Big River
Dylan-Cash Lyrics

Now I taught the weeping willow how to cry,
I am so pained by my lost love that I have even taught a tree to weep in my sorrow.

And I showed the clouds how to cover up a clear blue sky.
My sadness is so great that even the sky seems to mirror my feelings, with the clouds covering up a clear blue sky.

And the tears that I cried for that woman are gonna flood you Big River.
The river will be flooded with the tears that I have shed for this woman.

Then I'm gonna sit right here until I die.
I will stay here by the river until my death, consumed by my heartbreak.

I met her accidentally in St. Paul (Minnesota).
I did not plan to meet this woman, we just happened to cross paths in St. Paul.

And it tore me up every time I heard her drawl, Southern drawl.
Even the sound of her voice and her Southern drawl brought me great pain and sadness.

Then I heard my dream was back Downstream cavortin' in Davenport,
I found out that the woman I loved was Downstream in Davenport, doing what I had always dreamed of doing with her.

And I followed you, Big River, when you called.
I followed the river to try and find her, hoping it would lead me to her.

Then you took me to St. Louis later on (down the river).
The river led me to St. Louis as I continued my search for this woman.

A freighter said she's been here but she's gone, boy, she's gone.
I was told that the woman I was searching for had been in St. Louis, but had already left.

I found her trail in Memphis, but she just walked up the block.
I later found her trail in Memphis, but she had only walked up the street and then continued on alone.

She raised a few eyebrows and then she went on down alone.
Her actions confused and intrigued others, but she ultimately continued on her journey alone.

Now, won't you batter down by Baton Rouge, River Queen, roll it on.
I am now asking the River Queen to continue on its path and roll on through Baton Rouge.

Take that woman on down to New Orleans, New Orleans.
I am asking for the River Queen to take this woman down to New Orleans.

Go on, I've had enough, dump my blues down in the gulf.
I am telling the River Queen to keep going and to take my sorrows and heartbreak with it, letting them go in the gulf.

She loves you, Big River, more than me.
I have come to the realization that the woman I love loves the river more than she loves me.

Now I taught the weeping willow how to cry, cry, cry
I continue to be so consumed by my heartbreak that I feel like I have taught a tree to weep, weep, weep.

And I showed the clouds how to cover up a clear blue sky.
My sadness continues to be so overwhelming that even nature seems to reflect it, with clouds covering up the clear blue sky.

And the tears that I cried for that woman are gonna flood you Big River.
My tears for this woman are so great that they will flood the river.

Then I'm gonna sit right here until I die.
I will stay by the river, consumed by my heartbreak, until my death.