Now I taught the weeping willow how to cry, cry, cry

I've shown the clouds how to cover up a clear blue sky

And the tears I've cried over that woman 

Well they're gonna flood you big river

And 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 draw that southern draw

Then I heard my dream was back downstream in Davenport

Now I followed you big river when you called



Then you took me to St. Louis later on down the river

Freighter said you'd been here but she's gone said boy she's gone

Well I found her trail in Memphis but she just walked up the block

She raised a few eyebrows then she moved on down the ?

Yes she did



Now I went back down to Baton Rouge my little queen rollin' on

Take that woman on down to New Orleans, New Orleans

Go on I've had enough dumped my blues down in the gulf

She loves you big river more than me



When I pulled into Nachez yesterday down the river

You know there's not much there to make you stay very long

When I left it was raining so nobody saw me crying

Big river why's she treating me this way



Now I taught the weeping willow how to cry, cry, cry

I've shown the clouds how to cover up a clear blue sky

And the tears I've cried over that woman 

Well they're gonna flood you big river

And I'm gonna sit right here until I die



Yeah I'm gonna sit right here until I die