(Nelson, 1st line; Kristofferson, 2nd line; Jennings, 3rd line; Cash 4th line) I taught the weepin' 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 cavortin' 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 rainin' so nobody saw me cry Big river, why she doin' 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 weepin' 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