Well, I taught the weeping willow
How to cry, cry, cry
And I taught the clouds
How to cover up the 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
Well, 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
Well, I taught the weeping willow
How to cry, cry, cry
And I taught the clouds
How to cover up the clear blue sky
And the tears I cried for that woman
Are gonna flood you, big river
I'm gonna sit right here
Until I die
Then she took me to St. Louis
Later on, down the river
And a freighter said, "She's been here
But she's gone, boy, she's gone"
And I found her trail in Memphis
She just walked up the block
You know she turned
She went on down alone
Well, I taught the weeping willow
How to cry, cry, cry
And I taught the clouds
How to cover up the 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
Well, 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 off in the gulf
She loves you, big river
More than me
Well, I taught the weeping willow
How to cry, cry, cry
And I taught the clouds
How to cover up the 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
Well, I'm gonna sit right here
Until I die
I'm gonna sit right here
Until I die