Big River
Journey Along Big River: Love's Pursuit and Loss
Lyrics
Now I taught the weeping willow how to cry,
Expresses the speaker's influence on nature, teaching the weeping willow to cry, symbolic of sorrow.
And I showed the clouds how to cover up a clear blue sky.
Continues the metaphor, indicating the speaker's ability to conceal emotions, using clouds to cover a clear blue sky.
And the tears that I cried for that woman are gonna flood you Big River.
The tears shed for a woman will metaphorically flood the Big River, suggesting intense emotional impact.
Then I'm gonna sit right here until I die.
The speaker plans to stay in his current state of emotional distress until death.
I met her accidentally in St. Paul (Minnesota).
Recalls a chance meeting with a woman in St. Paul, emphasizing its accidental nature.
And it tore me up every time I heard her drawl, Southern drawl.
The woman's Southern drawl is emotionally affecting to the speaker.
Then I heard my dream was back Downstream cavortin' in Davenport,
The speaker learns the woman has moved downstream to Davenport, leading to his pursuit down the Big River.
And I followed you, Big River, when you called.
Responds to the call of the Big River and follows it in pursuit of the woman.
Then you took me to St. Louis later on (down the river).
Continues the journey downstream, reaching St. Louis, but the woman is no longer there.
A freighter said she's been here but she's gone, boy, she's gone.
A freighter confirms the woman's presence but indicates she has moved on.
I found her trail in Memphis, but she just walked up the block.
In Memphis, the speaker finds traces of the woman's path but is unable to catch up.
She raised a few eyebrows and then she went on down alone.
The woman attracts attention in Memphis, raising eyebrows, and continues alone.
Now, won't you batter down by Baton Rouge, River Queen, roll it on.
Asking the River Queen to break down barriers in Baton Rouge and take the woman to New Orleans.
Take that woman on down to New Orleans, New Orleans.
Directing the river to continue its course to New Orleans with the woman.
Go on, I've had enough, dump my blues down in the gulf.
The speaker is resigned to letting go of his troubles and emotional blues in the Gulf of Mexico.
She loves you, Big River, more than me.
Acknowledging that the woman loves the Big River more than the speaker.
Now I taught the weeping willow how to cry, cry, cry
Repetition of teaching the weeping willow and clouds, emphasizing the emotional depth of the speaker's experience.
And I showed the clouds how to cover up a clear blue sky.
Reiteration of the speaker's ability to hide emotions and influence nature.
And the tears that I cried for that woman are gonna flood you Big River.
Repeats the idea that the tears shed for the woman will flood the Big River.
Then I'm gonna sit right here until I die.
Reaffirms the speaker's decision to remain in his emotional state until death.
Comment