Big River
Highwayman;Waylon Jennings;Willie Nelson;Johnny Cash;Kris Kristofferson Lyrics


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Now I taught the weeping willow how to 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.
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.
Then I heard my dream was 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 block.
She raised a few eyebrows and then she went on down alone.

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 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.
Then I'm gonna sit right here until I die.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Big River" by Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, and Kris Kristofferson are about a man who falls in love with a woman who he follows down the Big River. He initially meets her accidentally in St. Paul (Minnesota) and is torn apart by her southern drawl. She eventually leaves, and the man follows her down the river to St. Louis, Memphis, Baton Rouge, and New Orleans. He is unable to find her, and she eventually chooses the river over him. The man is left heartbroken and alone, sitting by the river until he dies.


The song is a story of lost love and the struggles of one man to find his lost love. The Big River serves as a metaphor for the journey of life and its many twists and turns. The man is determined to follow the river until he finds his love, but he is ultimately unsuccessful. The lyrics reflect the traditional country music themes of heartache, love, and the trials of life.


Line by Line Meaning

Now I taught the weeping willow how to cry,
I was so heartbroken and sad that even the trees and nature around me learned to express my emotions.


And I showed the clouds how to cover up a clear blue sky.
I was so upset that even the weather changed to match my mood.


And the tears that I cried for that woman are gonna flood you Big River.
I cried so much for this woman that my tears are going to cause the river to overflow.


Then I'm gonna sit right here until I die.
I am so devastated that I will stay in one spot until the end of my life.


I met her accidentally in St. Paul (Minnesota).
I did not plan on meeting this woman, it was just by chance.


And it tore me up every time I heard her drawl, Southern drawl.
Her accent reminded me of everything I love and everything I lost.


Then I heard my dream was back Downstream cavortin' in Davenport,
I heard that the woman I loved was downstream in a town called Davenport.


And I followed you, Big River, when you called.
I followed the river to try to find her because it was my only lead.


Then you took me to St. Louis later on (down the river).
The river led me to St. Louis on my search for her.


A freighter said she's been here but she's gone, boy, she's gone.
Someone on a freighter told me that she had been to St. Louis but had already left.


I found her trail in Memphis, but she just walked up the block.
I discovered evidence that she had been in Memphis, but she had already moved on from there.


She raised a few eyebrows and then she went on down alone.
People were surprised to see her, but she continued on without me.


Now, won't you batter down by Baton Rouge, River Queen, roll it on.
I am asking the River Queen boat to continue down the river past Baton Rouge.


Take that woman on down to New Orleans, New Orleans.
I want the River Queen to take her to New Orleans, which is where she wants to be.


Go on, I've had enough, dump my blues down in the gulf.
I am done searching for her and just want to let my sadness go in the gulf.


She loves you, Big River, more than me.
The river means more to her than I ever did and she will always follow it wherever it leads.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Johnny R. Cash

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@AINGELPROJECT667

This one is for Orio Palmer, Batallion 7 Chief of FDNY.


I was a fire chief.
Into the Towers I did go.
And my fear I did not show,
We looked for survivors among the smoke and all the flames,
We refused to leave if someone still remained.
And there we stayed until the Towers fell to the ground.
But I am still around.


Rest in peace, Chief Palmer. You are remembered.



All comments from YouTube:

@WhatIsTheDill

I played this song for a few friends. None of them liked it. Clearly, I need new friends.

@bigjohonyas

Clearly

@Prod.Uisce1

Your friends should get cultured

@sangsanga9093

No just still stick with the same ones

@frederikgram8970

YES

@yoshihd2214

They re dumb...sry bro

594 More Replies...

@darrensmith8730

This song isn't long enough. A definite masterpiece.

@barbaraaly6186

It's beautiful

@bugcooper7441

simple and haunting

@thetom1487

Yes

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