Now I taught the weeping willow how to 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 went back downstream, cavorting in Davenport

And I followed you, big river, when you called

Then you 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

I found her trail in Memphis, but she just walked up the bluff

She raised a few eyebrows and then she went on down alone

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

Now 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