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

And I taught the clouds how to thunder up a clear blue sky

But the tears I cried for that woman gonna drown you big river

And I'm gonna sit right here until I die

Now I met her accidentally in St. Paul, Minnesota

And it tore me up every time I heard her drawl, southern drawl

I heard the dream went back downstream cavortin' in Davenport

And I'll follow you big river when you call

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

And a trader said she's been here but she's gone, boy she's gone

I found the trail in Memphis but she's just walked off the bluff

Raised a few eyebrows and then went sailin' on

Now won't you carry me down to Baton Rouge, River Queen, rollin' on

Carry that woman all the way down to New Orleans, New Orleans

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

'Cause she loves you big river

I said she loves you big river

You know she loves you big river more than me