johnny cash
12th of November 1957, producer Jack Clement at Sun Studio, Memphis also assisted the group Johnny Cash & the Tennessee Two on rythm guitar recording this song, and the propulsive backing together with the special mix as thick as a brick, made "Big River" a template for the "boom-chicka-boom" style of country music. Maybe Dylan have listened to this one: the quoting of towns and places are recurring in his songs.
Jack Clement also penned the other side of the single released December 1 : "Ballad of a Teenage Queen". I say "other side", because both sides charted.
In the beginning, the song had a third verse, later omitted for two reasons: playing time and the fact that it didn't rhyme properly. It's never been recorded, but can be heard on various live performances. I include it here with a strikethrough.
In 1964, the song was recorded over again for Columbia, and released on award-winning album "I Walk the Line".
The story behind the "boom-chicka-boom" style I've summed up HERE.
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 Saint Paul, Minnesota
and it tore me up every time I heard her drawl : southern drawl
then I heard my dream was back downstream cavorting in Davenport
and I followed you big river when you called
well now I pulled into Natchez the next day : down the river
and there wasn't much there to make a rounder stay very long
and when I left it was raining so nobody saw me cry
«Big River : why's she doing me that way?»
then you took me to Saint 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 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
For the following CHORD section, fullscreen/horizontal mobile is recommended.
Chords in brackets may be omitted.
E G E now I taught the weeping willow how to cry E F#7 B7 and I showed the clouds how to cover up a clear blue sky E E7 A7 and the tears that I cried for that woman are gonna flood you big river E B7 E G E then I'm gonna sit right here until I die
