The band consists of KOWBOY KONRAD(ex-Sin Alley, ex-Los Fabulous Frankies, currently Runnin’ Wild, Donkey Diesel), guitarist SAMMY BOY (ex-Gearjammers), double bass player LENN (Runnin’ Wild) and drummer PISTON PEDRO (ex-Cagy, ex-Los Putas). Together they are everything today’s Nashville does NOT stand for, and their muscled beerbelly RebelCountryRock shows that Country Music also in the third millenium still can have Cojones.
And, by the way, line dancing is FUCKING FORBIDDEN
Big River
Hètten Dès Lyrics
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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 St. Paul, Minnesota.
And it tore me up every time I heard her drawl, Southern drawl.
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 then she went on down alone.
Now, won't you paddle down by Baton Rouge,
River Queen, rollin' 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 perfectly clear blue sky.
And the tears that I cried for that woman
Are gonna flood you Big River.
I'm gonna sit right here until I fckin rott.
The song “Big River” by Johnny Cash is a famous classic country tune from the 60s. The lyrics follow a man’s journey down the Mississippi river in pursuit of a woman who has caused him heartache. The opening lines suggest a strong, emotional connection between the singer and the natural landscape. He has taught the weeping willow how to cry (presumably from the tears he sheds), and the clouds how to hide the sad reality of what is going on beneath them. The tears he cries for the woman he loves are about to flood the Big River.
The singer then recounts how he met the woman in St. Paul, Minnesota, and how her southern drawl got under his skin. He followed her downriver to Davenport, where he thought he could win her over, but she continued down the Mississippi. The singer continues to follow her, to St. Louis and onward, where he eventually accepts his defeat and instructs the River Queen to take her to New Orleans, where he can finally let go of his blues.
The singer’s journey down the Mississippi river serves as a metaphor for his emotional journey following this woman. The lyrics speak to a universal experience of loss and heartbreak, and of the different stages one goes through in their journey to healing. The song ends with a sense of resignation, as the singer accepts the futility of his pursuit and resigns himself to sitting on the riverbank until he dies.
Line by Line Meaning
Now I taught the weeping willow how to cry,
I was so heartbroken that even the trees are now crying with me.
And I showed the clouds how to cover up a clear blue sky.
I was so sad that even nature reflected my sorrow by showing signs of rain.
And the tears that I cried for that woman
The pain and sadness I felt because of this woman
Are gonna flood you Big River.
Is going to cause the river, which once brought us together, to overflow and flood.
Then I'm gonna sit right here until I die.
I will remain here, unable to move on from this heartbreak, until my death.
I met her accidentally in St. Paul, Minnesota.
I met her unexpectedly in a small town in Minnesota.
And it tore me up every time I heard her drawl, Southern drawl.
Her accent, which reminded me of everything I had lost, was very painful to hear.
Then I heard my dream was back Downstream Cavortin' in Davenport,
I learned that the woman of my dreams, who I had lost, was downstream in Davenport having fun without me.
And I followed you, Big River, when you called.
I followed the river, which had brought us together, hoping to find her once again.
Then you took me to St. Louis later on, down the river.
Later on, the river took me to St. Louis.
A freighter said she's been here, But she's gone, boy, she's gone.
A boat operator told me she had been there, but she had already left.
I found her trail in Memphis, But she just walked up the bluff.
I found evidence of her passing in Memphis, but she had already left on foot.
She raised a few eyebrows and then she went on down alone.
She attracted attention but continued on her journey alone.
Now, won't you paddle down by Baton Rouge, River Queen, rollin' on.
I am asking the River Queen to take her down to Baton Rouge.
Take that woman on down to New Orleans, New Orleans.
Take her to New Orleans, where she can start a new life without me.
Go on, I've had enough;
I am tired of chasing after her and trying to win her back.
Dump my blues down in the gulf.
I want to let go of my sadness and pain, and let it disappear into the Gulf of Mexico.
She loves you, Big River, more than me.
She loves the river more than she loves me, and I accept that now.
Now I taught the weeping willow how to cry cry cry,
I cried so much that even the trees were learning how to cry with me.
And I showed the clouds how to cover up a perfectly clear blue sky.
My sadness was so intense that it even affected the weather, causing the skies to darken and become cloudy.
And the tears that I cried for that woman
The pain and heartache caused by my love for her
Are gonna flood you Big River.
Will flood the river, which was once a symbol of love and hope for us.
I'm gonna sit right here until I fckin rott.
I have lost everything and have no reason to go on, so I will sit here until I die.
Writer(s): Johnny R. Cash
Contributed by Callie E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.