Big River
TheGrateful Dead Lyrics

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Well I taught that weeping willow how to cry cry cry,
Taught the clouds how to cover up a clear blue sky.
Tears I cried for that woman are gonna flood you big river,
And I'm a gonna sit right here until I die.

I met her accidentally in st. Paul, Minnesota,
She tore me up everything I heard her drawl, that southern drawl.
Well I heard my dream went back downstream, cavortin' in davenport,

And I follow you big river when you called.

Well I followed her down to st. Louie, later on down the river,
Trader said she's been here, but she's gone, boy, she's gone.
Well I followed her down to Memphis, but she just walked off the bus,
She raised a few eyebrows and she went on down alone.

Well I've gotten on down to baton rouge, river queen roll on,
Take that woman down to new Orleans, new Orleans.

I give up, I've had enough, followed my blues on down to the gulf,
She loves you big river more than me.

Overall Meaning

The Grateful Dead's "Big River" is a song that tells a story of a man who is exploring the Mississippi River in search of a woman he has fallen in love with. The song's opening lines, "Well I taught that weeping willow how to cry cry cry, Taught the clouds how to cover up a clear blue sky," indicates that the man is experiencing heartbreak and his tears may symbolically flood the river. He follows the river's path in hopes of finding the woman that he met in St. Paul, Minnesota, after being drawn to her southern drawl. When he gets to St. Louis and Memphis, he finds no trace of her, but he continues to follow the river down to Baton Rouge and eventually gives up upon reaching New Orleans. He accepts that she loves the river more than him.

One interpretation of the song is that the man's journey symbolizes a search for meaning or purpose in life. The Mississippi River represents an adventure, and his pursuit of the woman represents his pursuit of something that he desires. The lyrics capture a sense of longing, confusion, and sadness as the man fails to find what he’s been searching for.

Line by Line Meaning

Well I taught that weeping willow how to cry cry cry,
I experienced so much sadness and pain that even nature learned to express those emotions.

Taught the clouds how to cover up a clear blue sky.
My misery was so intense that even the sky couldn't remain bright and clear.

Tears I cried for that woman are gonna flood you big river,
My tears for her are so numerous and powerful that they will cause your river to overflow.

And I'm a gonna sit right here until I die.
I'm so devastated that I'll stay here forever and die in this place.

I met her accidentally in st. Paul, Minnesota,
I didn't plan to meet her, it was by chance that I first encountered her in St. Paul.

She tore me up everything I heard her drawl, that southern drawl.
Her accent and way of speaking completely captivated and affected me emotionally.

Well I heard my dream went back downstream, cavortin' in davenport,
I've heard that she's moved on and is having fun somewhere else, away from me.

And I follow you big river when you called.
I've been following the river because I feel drawn to it in my sadness and desperation.

Trader said she's been here, but she's gone, boy, she's gone.
Someone told me that she was here previously, but now she's left and I've missed her again.

Well I followed her down to Memphis, but she just walked off the bus,
I followed her to Memphis, but she got off the bus and walked away from me without saying a word.

She raised a few eyebrows and she went on down alone.
Her behavior drew attention and speculation from others, but she continued on her way by herself.

Well I've gotten on down to baton rouge, river queen roll on,
I've traveled further down the river to Baton Rouge and watched the riverboat go by.

Take that woman down to new Orleans, new Orleans.
I wish she was with me so we could go together to New Orleans and enjoy the city's festivities.

I give up, I've had enough, followed my blues on down to the gulf,
I'm done chasing her and my sadness has led me all the way to the Gulf of Mexico.

She loves you big river more than me.
I realize that her love for the river is stronger than her love for me.

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Johnny R. Cash

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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