I taught the weeping willow how to cry, cry, cry
And I showed the clouds how to cover up a clear blue sky
And the tears that 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 was 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
An' 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 raining, so nobody saw me crying
Big river, why she buried 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 weeping 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
Then I'm gonna sit right here until I die