E|----------------------------------------------------------------|
B|----------------------------------------------------------------|
G|----------------------------------------------------------------|
D|----------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---2-2-2------5--5--5--------2-2-2-2-----5--5--5----------------|
E|---------2-0--3--3--3-0-------------2-0--3--3--3-0--------------|


[Verse 1]
    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


[Instrumental]
   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.

[Instrumental]
             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