v.1
^GWell I taught the weepin' willow how to cry
^GAnd I showed the clouds how to cover up a ^Aclear blue ^Dsky
But the ^Gtears I cried for that woman are gonna ^Cflood you big river
An' ^GI'm gonna sit right ^Dhere until I ^Gdie

v.2
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
An' I followed you big river when you called

v.3
Then you took me to St. Louis later on down the river
A freighter said she'd been here but she's gone boy she's gone
I found her trail in Memphis but she'd just walked up the bluff
She raised a few eyebrows and went on down alone

v.4
Now won't you bat it down by Baton Rouge River Queen roll on
Take that woman on down to New Orleans, New Orleans
Go on I've had enough, I dumped my blues down in the Gulf
Y'know she loves you big river more than me