Big River
Johnny Cash Trick Pony & Waylon Jennings 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.
Then I heard my dream was back Downstream cavortin' in Davenport,
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.
The lyrics of "Big River" by Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan tell a story of heartbreak and longing. In the song, the singer reflects on his past experiences and how they have led him to the present moment, sitting by the river and mourning the loss of a woman he loves.
The first verse talks about how the singer has taught nature to express his sadness. He taught the weeping willow how to cry and the clouds how to cover the clear blue sky, which is a metaphor for his emotional turmoil that is hiding behind a facade of positivity. He then talks about how he has shed tears for this woman and how they will flood the Big River. This river, which is likely the Mississippi, is a symbol of time and how it keeps moving forward despite the singer's pain.
The second verse talks about how the singer met the woman accidentally in St. Paul, Minnesota. She had a Southern drawl that tore him up every time he heard it. He followed her down the river, hoping to find her again. He eventually came across a freighter in St. Louis that told him she was gone. He continued to search for her in Memphis, where he found her trail but ultimately lost her again.
The third verse talks about how the singer is giving up his pursuit of this woman. He tells the River Queen to take her to New Orleans, where he has had enough and wants to dump his blues down in the gulf. He acknowledges that the woman loves the Big River more than him, and so he has given up trying to win her back.
Overall, "Big River" is a powerful song that uses vivid imagery and metaphor to convey the singer's feelings of heartbreak and loss. The song's lyrics are both poetic and deeply moving.
Line by Line Meaning
Now I taught the weeping willow how to cry,
I have experienced deep sorrow and sadness, so much so that it is personified as teaching a tree how to weep and express sadness.
And I showed the clouds how to cover up a clear blue sky.
My despair is so great that even the weather seems to mirror my mood.
And the tears that I cried for that woman are gonna flood you Big River.
My heartbreak and misery will overflow into the river and impact those downstream.
Then I'm gonna sit right here until I die.
I will remain in this place, consumed by my emotions until my last breath.
I met her accidentally in St. Paul (Minnesota).
I encountered this woman unexpectedly in a city I didn't expect her to be in.
And it tore me up every time I heard her drawl, Southern drawl.
The sound of her voice, and the reminder of what I have lost, is deeply painful to me.
Then I heard my dream was back Downstream cavortin' in Davenport,
I received information that she was further down the river, enjoying herself in another town.
And I followed you, Big River, when you called.
I was compelled to chase her down the river, despite the emotional toll it was taking on me.
Then you took me to St. Louis later on (down the river).
I continued to travel with the river and ended up in St. Louis.
A freighter said she's been here but she's gone, boy, she's gone.
Someone on a passing ship informed me that the woman I'm searching for had been in the area, but had already left.
I found her trail in Memphis, but she just walked up the block.
I finally located a trace of her presence in Memphis, but could only follow her footsteps for a short distance.
She raised a few eyebrows and then she went on down alone.
Her recent actions created a stir, but ultimately she continued moving alone down the river.
Now, won't you batter down by Baton Rouge, River Queen, roll it on.
I now plead with the river to take her away, past Baton Rouge and further down the river.
Take that woman on down to New Orleans, New Orleans.
My hope is that she will travel all the way to New Orleans, far away from the pain I am experiencing.
Go on, I've had enough, dump my blues down in the gulf.
I am done with this suffering, and request that my sadness be washed away in the Gulf.
She loves you, Big River, more than me.
The river is now the object of her affection, more than she ever loved me.
Now I taught the weeping willow how to cry, cry, cry
The sadness I experienced was so profound, that I had to endure it multiple times over.
And I showed the clouds how to cover up a clear blue sky.
My experience of tragedy and loss was so intense, that even the weather seemed to reflect it.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Johnny R. Cash
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind