E
Now I taught the weeping willow how to cry,
                                            F#        B7
And I showed the clouds how to cover up a clear blue sky 
  E                                                   A
And the tears that I cried for that woman are gonna flood you Big River 
      E                   B7            E
Then I'm gonna sit right here until I die

   E
I met her accidentally in St  Paul Minnesota 
                                         F#              B7
And it tore me up every time I heard her drawl, Southern drawl 
        E                                    A
Then I heard my dream was back Downstream cavortin' in Davenport,
            E          B7                 E
And I followed you, Big River, when you called 

           E
Then you took me to St  Louis later on (down the river) 
                                             F#               B7
A freighter said she's been here but she's gone, boy, she's gone 
      E                               A
I found her trail in Memphis, but she just walked up the block 
                E                         B7         E
She raised a few eyebrows and then she went on down alone 

             E
Now, won't you batter down by Baton Rouge, River Queen, roll it on 
                              F#             B7
Take that woman on down to New Orleans, New Orleans 
   E                             A
Go on, I've had enough, dump my blues down in the gulf 
    E                B7                E
She loves you, Big River, more than me 

    E
Now I taught the weeping willow how to cry,
                                           F#        B7
And I showed the clouds how to cover up a clear blue sky 
 E                                                   A
And the tears that I cried for that woman are gonna flood you Big River 
     E                   B7            E      E7
Then I'm gonna sit right here until I die