Now I taught the weeping willow how to cry, cry, cry
I showed the clouds how to cover up a clear blue sky.
And the tears that I cried for that woman
And I'm gonna flood you Big River.
And I'm gonna sit right here until I die.
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 was back Downstream cavortin' in
Davenport
And I followed you Big River when you called.
Then you 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.
I found her trail in Memphis but she just walked up the
bluff.
She raised a few eyebrows and went on down alone.
Now won't you bat it 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.
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.
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 St. Paul, Minnesota
And it tore me up every time 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 St. 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 block
Raised a few eyebrows and then she went on down alone
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
Well I taught the weeping willow how to 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
Then I'm gonna sit right here until I die
Oh I met her accidentaly in St Paul Minnesota
And it tore me up every time 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 St 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 block
She raised a few eyebrows and went on down alone
Now won't you batter down by Boton 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
Oh she loves you Big River more than me
Yeah 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
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 St. Paul (Minnesota).
And it tore me up every time 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 St. 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 block.
She raised a few eyebrows and then she went on down alone.
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.
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.
Well I taught that weeping willow how to cry cry cry,
Taught the clouds how to cover up a clear blue sky.
Tears I cried for that woman are gonna flood you big river,
And I'm a gonna sit right here until I die.
I met her accidentally in St. Paul, Minnesota,
She tore me up everything I heard her drawl, that southern drawl.
Well I heard my dream went back downstream, cavortin' in Davenport,
And I follow you big river when you called.
Well I followed her down to St. Louie, later on down the river,
Trader said she's been here, but she's gone, boy, she's gone.
Well I followed her down to Memphis, but she just walked off the bus,
She raised a few eyebrows and she went on down alone.
Well I've gotten on down to Baton Rouge, River Queen roll on,
Take that woman down to New Orleans, New Orleans.
I give up, I've had enough, followed my blues on down to the gulf,
She loves you big river more than me.
Life is like a big river
Sinkin' or swim, depends on you
You can take or you can be a giver
You're gonna get through
Once, a good woman loved me
If you got love
Kinda cruel, and she left me one day
Now I'm cyin', she loves another
Gotta go alone
The rest of the way
Take, the advice of a loser
Who's been livin' too long alone
Follow your heart
Follow your rainbow
And one day you'll find
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 St. Paul (Minnesota).
And it tore me up every time 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 St. 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 block.
She raised a few eyebrows and then she went on down alone.
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.
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.
I taught the weeping willow how to cry, cry, cry
I taught the clouds how to cover up a clear blue sky
The tears I cried for that woman, they're gonna flood
you, Big River
I'm gonna lay right here until I die
Well I met her accidentally in St. Paul, Minnesota
Tore me up every time I heard her drawl, Southern drawl
I heard my Queen, went back downstream towards ol'
Davenport,
Well I followed you, Big River, when you called
I followed you to St. Louis later on River Queen
A freighter said she's been here but she's gone, boy,
she's gone
I caught her trail in Memphis, but she just walked up the
block
She raised her two eyebrows and she walked on down alone
Whoa batten on down Baton Rouge, River Queen
Take that woman on down to Orleans, New Orleans
I'm gone, I've had enough, dump my blues down in the gulf
She loves you, Big River, more than me
Wind at my back
face in the sun
All my big ideas done
Big river
rollin'
Listen to a sea shell
you can hear the sea
Listen to a beer glass
that river belongs to me
Big river
rollin'
There's a river runs here
hen it rains we flood
Co-op city first 3 floods
of Charles River mud
Big river
rollin'
Oh, yeah!
Big river
rollin'
Oh, yeah!
Land's edge,
where the East begins,
The debris meets the sea
when the tide comes in
Oh, look out!
Look both ways now
(Solo 1)
Big river
rollin'
Oh, yeah!
Big river
rollin'
Oh, yeah!
Big river
Big river
Oh, yeah!
Now I taught the weeping willow how to cry, cry, cry
I've shown the clouds how to cover up a clear blue sky
And the tears I've cried over that woman
Well, they're 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 draw that southern draw
Then I heard my dream was back downstream reporting in Davenport
And I followed you big river when you called
Then you took me to St. Louis later on down the river
Freighter said you'd been here but she's gone said boy she's gone
Well, I found her trail in Memphis but she just walked up the block
She raised a few eyebrows then she moved on down along, yes, she did
Now I went back down to Baton Rouge my little queen rolling on
Take that woman on down to New Orleans, New Orleans
Go on I've had enough dumped my blues down in the gulf
She loves you big river more than me
Yeah, when I pulled into Nachez yesterday down the river
You know there's not much there to make you stay very long
When I left it was raining so nobody saw me crying
Big river why's she treating me this way
Well, I taught the weeping willow how to cry, cry, cry
I've shown the clouds how to cover up a clear blue sky
And the tears I've cried over that woman
Well they're gonna flood you big river and I'm gonna sit right here until I die
You know a dream is like a river
Ever changin' as it flows
And a dreamer's just a vessel
That must follow where it goes
Trying to learn from what's behind you
And never knowing what's in store
Makes each day a constant battle
Just to stay between the shores...and
I will sail my vessel
'Til the river runs dry
Like a bird upon the wind
These waters are my sky
I'll never reach my destination
If I never try
So I will sail my vessel
'Til the river runs dry
Too many times we stand aside
And let the waters slip away
'Til what we put off 'til tomorrow
Has now become today
So don't you sit upon the shoreline
And say you're satisfied
Choose to chance the rapids
And dare to dance the tide...yes
I will sail my vessel
'Til the river runs dry
Like a bird upon the wind
These waters are my sky
I'll never reach my destination
If I never try
So I will sail my vessel
'Til the river runs dry
There's bound to be rough waters
And I know I'll take some falls
But with the good Lord as my captain
I can make it through them all...yes
I will sail my vessel
'Til the river runs dry
Like a bird upon the wind
These waters are my sky
I'll never reach my destination
If I never try
So I will sail my vessel
'Til the river runs dry
Yes, I will sail my vessel
'Til the river runs dry
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 St. Paul (Minnesota).
And it tore me up every time 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 St. 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 block.
She raised a few eyebrows and then she went on down
alone.
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.
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.
[Nelson:]
I taught the weepin' willow how to cry, cry, cry.
[Kristofferson:]
And I showed the clouds how to cover up a clear blue
sky.
[Jennings:]
And the tears that I cried for that woman are gonna
flood you, big river.
[Cash:]
And I'm gonna sit right here until I die.
[Nelson:]
I met her accidentally in St. Paul, Minnesota.
And it tore me up every time I heard her drawl,
southern drawl.
And I heard my dream, Went back downstream, cavortin'
in Davenport,
And I followed you, big river, when she called.
[Instrumental break.]
[Kristofferson:]
Oh, she took me to St. Louie later on, down the river.
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 club.
Raised a few eyebrows and went on down alone.
[Jennings:)
Well, I pulled into Natches next day down 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?
[Instrumental break.]
[Cash:]
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:]
I taught the weepin' willow how to cry, cry, cry.
[Kristofferson:]
And I showed the clouds how to cover up a clear blue
sky.
[Jennings:]
And the tears I cried for that woman are gonna flood
you, big river.
[Cash:]
Words and music by jimmy nail
Walking on cobble stone, little bits of skin and bone
Jumping on the tram car for a ride
I can remember then, I was just a boy of ten
Hanging out along the old quayside
Not all the capstans and the cargo boats
And stevadores are gone
To where all the old ships go
But memories just like the seas live on
That was when coal was king,
The river a living thing
And I was just a boy, but it was mine,
The coaly tyne
This was a big river,
I want you all to know that I was proud
This was a big river, but that was long ago,
That's not now, that's not now
My fther was a working man,
He earned our living with his hands
He had to cross the river every day
He picked up a union card out of the neptune yard
Mouths to feed and the bills to pay
Then came a time for him to sail across the sea
And far away
Finally when the war was won
You brought him home and home he stayed
And when his days were done, under a golden sun
You carried him to where he longed to be,
Back to the sea
This was a big river,
I want you all to know that I was proud
This was a big river, but that was long ago,
That's not now
The neptune was the last to go,
I heard it on my radio
And then they played the latest number one
But what do they do all day?
And what are they supposed to say?
What does a father tell his son?
If you you believed that there's a bond between our future
And our past
Then try to hold on to what we had,
We build them strong, we built to last
'cause this is a mighty town,
It's built upon solid ground
And everything they tried so hard to kill,
We will rebuild
This was a big river
I want you all to know that I was proud
This was a big river, but that was long ago,
That's not now
This is a big river,
And in my heart I know it will rise again
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 St. Paul (Minnesota)
And it tore me up ev'ry time 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 St. 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
Well I pulled into Natchez next day down the river
But there wasn't that much to make a rounder stay very long
But when I left it was rainin' so nobody saw me cry
Big River why you doin' me this way
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
Tin roof leaks when it rains
Bull frogs and crickets sing
Wise ole hoot owls watchin' everything
Moss hangin' in the trees
Fireflies dancin' in the breeze
I got Heaven sittin' in my front porch swing
Right next to me
So roll on, roll on,
Roll on, big river
Winding like an old moonlit highway
Roll on, roll on
Roll on, big river
Muddy waters wash my cares away
Crawfish boiling in a pot
Barefoot on the dock
Baby's hanging on me
And I know it won't be long
Til we pull a cork on that jug of wine
Tangled up like kudzu vine
Do a little late night lovin' til the fire's gone
And we're all alone
So roll on, roll on,
Roll on, big river
Winding like an old moonlit highway
Roll on, roll on
Roll on, big river
Muddy waters wash my cares away
Roll on, roll on,
Roll on, big river
Winding like an old moonlit highway
Roll on, roll on
Roll on, big river
Muddy waters wash my cares away
Roll on, roll on,
Roll on, big river
Winding like an old moonlit highway
Roll on, roll on
Roll on, big river
Muddy waters wash my cares away
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 St. Paul (Minnesota).
And it tore me up ev'ry time 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 St. 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
block.
She raised a few eyebrows and then she went on down
alone.
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.
(Steel)
He came up from the country looking for a job of work,
He came from a town that died a slow hard death,
And when the train pulled into Spencer Street, he was fast asleep.
He opened one eye and he took a long deep breath.
On the first day he was dazed by the noise and by the bustle,
He sat in the square, and tried so hard to think.
Found a cheap hotel and booked himself a room all damp and shabby
He sat in the bar, he bought himself a drink.
He sang: "Flow river flow, flow to the sea,
Flow on big river, bring my dreams back home to me."
He rose early on the second day,
And watched the dirty struggle of the dawn
To rise above the smoke and haze.
And armed with a map he made his way from factory to foundry,
Joined the queues of the unskilled labourers.
Then an old man came, shook his hand,
Sat right there beside him,
And he heard the tale of rural poverty.
Shook his head, and with a tear he said,
"All that you have told me
Is like having my own story told to me."
He sang: "Flow river flow, flow to the sea,
Flow on big river, bring my dreams back home to me."
Drinking harder every night,
He made himself keep searching
Till he found he could not rise to greet the day.
And he lay behind a vale of tears on the Yarra bank that morning,
And he wondered how the hell things got this way.
Late that night he stumbled from an inner city bar,
Barely conscious down the alley he did sway.
And they beat him, they sank the boot in,
And they took his last four dollars,
Left him dying in the dawn, it was Saturday...
He sang: "Flow river flow, flow to the sea,
Flow on big river, bring my dreams back home to me."
Flow river flow, flow to the sea,
Flow on big river, bring my dreams back home to me.
Flow river flow, oh flow on to the sea,
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 St. Paul (Minnesota).
And it tore me up every time 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 St. 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 block.
She raised a few eyebrows and then she went on down
alone.
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.
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.
On a strange hill
there is a steel mill
cast a shadow
on my hometown
Good men...
Good men don't mess around
they work there still
all the good men in the steel mill
(and everyone knows someone who works at steelmill)
Big river
divides our broken souls!
Big river
is lined with broken homes!
And idle hands...
idle hands need exercise
driving down
the government street
quick turn...
quick turn then accelerate!
and up you go the government street!
(everyone knows someone who drowned into that river)
Big river
divides our broken souls!
Big river
is lined with broken homes!
We are racing down the rapids
down stream we float
Broken souls in the brewery...
in the steel mill
up on the hill
And we are rolling down the government street
to the west beach
to the stone beach
