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
Then I'm gonna sit right here until I die
I met her accidentally in Saint Paul, Minnesota
And it tore me up everytime I heard her drawl, southern drawl
Then I heard my dream was back Downstream
Cavortin' in Davenport
And I followed you, big river, when you called
♪
Then you took me to Saint 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 bat it down by Baton Rouge, River Queen, roll it on
And 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
Then I'm gonna sit right here until I die