Formed in 1972, the Nighthawks underwent several personnel changes before stabilizing the lineup of Mark Wenner (harmonica), Jimmy Thackery (lead guitar), Jan Zukowski (bass guitar), and Pete Ragusa (drums). Keyboard player Greg Wetzel joined the band in 1983 and has continued to play at special performances as an "alumni" of the band.
The membership of the band remained relatively stable until 1987. At that time, tired of the band's extensive touring schedule, Thackery (lead guitar) departed. Following his departure, several players temporarily filled the lead guitar spot. These included Danny Morris and Pete Kanaras.
In 2003, the band featured in the first episode of the second season of The Wire with "Sixteen Tons".
Kanaras (lead guitar) and Zukowski (bass guitar) departed the band in 2004. They were replaced by DC musicians Paul Bell (lead guitar) and Johnny Castle (bass guitar)
#2 The Nighthawks were an American rock & roll band from Amarillo, Texas with Eddie Reeves (rhythm guitar & vocals); Bob Venable (lead guitar); John Thompson (bass); Mike Hinton (drums).
Big River
The Nighthawks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I showed the clouds how to cover up a clear blue sky
But the tears I cried for that woman they're gonna flood deep Big River
I'm gonna sit right here until I die
Well, I met her accidentally in St. Paul, Minnesota
And it tore me up every time I heard her drawl, southern drawl
But I heard my dream was back downstream cavortin' in Davenport
Then you take me to St. Louis later on down the river
One traitor said she's been here
But she's gone, boy, she's gone
And I found her trail in Memphis
Where she just walked up the bluff
She raised a few eyebrows, she went on down alone
Won't you batten down in Baton Rouge
River Queen, roll it on
Take that woman on down to New Orleans, New Orleans
Come on, I've had enough
Just to roll my blues out in the gulf
She loves you, Big River, more than me
Well I taught the weeping willow how to cry, cry, cry
And I taught the clouds how to cover up a clear blue sky
But the tears I cried for that woman they're gonna flood deep Big River.
I'm gonna sit right here until I die
The Nighthawks' song "Big River" tells the story of a man who has been heartbroken by a woman he met in St. Paul, Minnesota. The man reflects on how he taught the weeping willow and the clouds to cry, but the tears he cried for that woman will flood the Big River. He then hears that she's back downstream in Davenport and follows Big River when it calls. He later finds out that she's been in St. Louis, but she's gone, and he eventually trails her to Memphis, where she has raised eyebrows by walking up the bluff alone. We can infer that she may have done something scandalous. Finally, the man tells the River Queen to take the woman down to New Orleans because he's had enough. He recognizes that the woman loves Big River more than him and resigns himself to sit by the river until he dies.
The song is a poignant expression of heartbreak and the struggle to come to terms with a lost love. The river, Big River, becomes a metaphor for the passage of time and the inevitability of change. The man cannot hold onto his love, but he can at least find solace in the steady, unwavering flow of the river. Overall, the song is a powerful meditation on the transient nature of love and the need for acceptance and resiliency in the face of heartbreak.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I taught the weeping willow how to cry
I was so heartbroken that even nature cried with me
And I showed the clouds how to cover up a clear blue sky
I was so sad that even the sky turned gray and cloudy with me
But the tears I cried for that woman they're gonna flood deep Big River
My tears will flow so much that they'll overflow the Big River and be seen by all
I'm gonna sit right here until I die
I've given up on love and will stay here until I pass away
Well, I met her accidentally in St. Paul, Minnesota
I didn't plan on falling in love with her, but it happened by chance
And it tore me up every time I heard her drawl, southern drawl
Her southern accent reminded me of her roots and how different we were
But I heard my dream was back downstream cavortin' in Davenport
I heard she went back to her old ways and was having fun in Davenport
And I followed you, Big River, when you called
I followed the river to find her and see if we could rekindle our love
Then you take me to St. Louis later on down the river
The river led me to St. Louis where I hoped to find her
One traitor said she's been here
Someone told me she had been in St. Louis recently
But she's gone, boy, she's gone
But she had already left and I missed my chance to see her
And I found her trail in Memphis
I found some evidence that she had been in Memphis
Where she just walked up the bluff
She walked up a steep hill in Memphis
She raised a few eyebrows, she went on down alone
She attracted some attention in Memphis but left by herself
Won't you batten down in Baton Rouge
Let's stop here in Baton Rouge and take a break
River Queen, roll it on
Let's keep going down the river
Take that woman on down to New Orleans, New Orleans
Let's take her down to New Orleans where we can have fun
Come on, I've had enough
I'm tired of chasing her: let's just enjoy ourselves
Just to roll my blues out in the gulf
Let's go to the gulf to get rid of our sadness and start fresh
She loves you, Big River, more than me
She's moved on and loves the river more than me
Well I taught the weeping willow how to cry, cry, cry
I was so heartbroken that even nature cried with me
And I taught the clouds how to cover up a clear blue sky
I was so sad that even the sky turned gray and cloudy with me
But the tears I cried for that woman they're gonna flood deep Big River.
My tears will flow so much that they'll overflow the Big River and be seen by all
I'm gonna sit right here until I die
I've given up on love and will stay here until I pass away
Contributed by Isabelle F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Kyle Owens
on Moving Up In Class
In the lyric line, "When I asked you out to dinner babe, you brought along Goodtime Slim,", that should I believe be "D-town Slim" (ie signifying Detroit)
Kyle Owens
on Moving Up In Class
Rather, I believe that chorus part should read :
'Cause you were dirty dealing mama and you're,
No, never dragging me down;
Kyle Owens
on Moving Up In Class
Moving Up in Class by The Nighthawks
I used to love you every morning babe and kiss you through the night,
I used to whisper in your ear that everything will be alright;
But now you're running loose, with a friend of mine in town,
I've got to let you go babe y'know I've got to put you down;
[Chorus} I'm moving up,
I'm moving up in class this time around,
'Cause you were dirty dealing mama and you...
You're never dragging me down;
You're too funky honey!
You cuss just like a sailor babae, you eat just like a hog,
'Treat you daddy low down and dirty, just like a no-good dog;
When I asked you out to dinner babe, you brought along Goodtime Slim,
He don't give you no money honey, but I KNOW what you're giving him;
[chorus}
Well I give you all my money babe, but you stay out late at night,
You come home nuggie-dirty, all you ever do is fuss and fight;
But I'm gonna leave you babe, I'm gonna leave you far behind,
Where there ain't no where to go but up in class, I tell you I ain't lyin';
[chorus]