I taught the weepin' willow how to cry, cry, cry
And I showed the clouds how to cover up a clear blue sky
And the tears I cried for that woman, are gonna flood you, big river
And 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 went back downstream cavortin' in Davenport,
And I followed you, big river, when she called.

Oh she 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"
And I found her trail in Memphis, but she just walked up the block.
Raised a few eyebrows and went on down alone.

Well, I pulled into Natchez, next day down the river
But there wasn't much there to make the rounders stay very long.
When I left it was rainin' so nobody saw me cry.
Big river, why she doin' me this way?

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

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