Big River

(album: Highwayman - 1985)

[Nelson, 1st line; Kristofferson, 2nd line; Jennings, 3rd line; Cash 4th line]
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
And I'm gonna sit right here until I die

[Willie Nelson]
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 she called.

[Kris Kristofferson]
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"
And I found her trail in Memphis, but she just walked up the block.
Raised a few eyebrows and went on down alone.

[Waylon Jennings]
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 cry.
Big river, why she doing me this way?

[Johnny Cash, lead and all the others, harmony]
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

[Nelson, 1st line; Kristofferson, 2nd line; Jennings, 3rd line; Cash 4th line]
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
And I'm gonna sit right here until I die