Album: Johnny Cash Sings the Songs That Made Him Famous (1958)

Charted: 14

License This Song 

• 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. Writer/s: Johnny R. Cash
  Publisher: BMG Rights Management
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 1

• Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn this day in 1958 {March 23rd} "Big River" by Johnny Cash peaked at #4 {for 1 week} on Billboard's 'Most-Played Country & Western Records By Jockeys'* chart...
  And at the time the flip-side of "Big River", "Ballad of A Teenage Queen", was at #1 on both 'Most-Played By Jockeys' and 'Best-Selling Country & Western Records In Stores' chart...
  Between 1955 and 2003 the Kingsland, Arkansas native had one hundred-twelve records on the Billboard Country charts, forty-four made the Top 10 with thirteen reaching #1, plus he had seven peak at #2...
  Ten of his 112 charted records were duets, eight with June Carter Cash and two with Waylon Jennings...
  He had three charted records as a member of the super quartet, The Highwaymen...
  'The Man in Black' passed away at the age of 71 on September 12th, 2003...
  May Mr. Cash, June Carter Cash {1929 – 2003} and Waylon Jennings {1937 – 2002} all R.I.P.
  * And from the 'For What It's Worth' department, the Most-Played C&W Records By Jockeys' Top 10 on March 23rd, 1958:
  At #1. "Ballad of A Teenage Queen" by Johnny Cash
  #2. "Oh! Lonesome Me" by Don Gibson
  #3. "I Can't Stop Loving You" by Kitty Wells
  #4. the above "Big River"
  #5. "Curtain In The Window" by Ray Price
  #6. "Just Married" by Marty Robbins
  #7. "Don't" by Elvis Presley
  #8. "Once More" by Roy Acuff
  #9. "This Little Girl of Mine" by the Everly Brothers
  #10. "Send Me The Pillow You Cry On" by Hank Locklin

More Songfacts:

Give It AwayRed Hot Chili Peppers

If what you get equals what you give away, you might as well give it all away. That's the concept behind "Give It Away" by Red Hot Chili Peppers.

CruiseFlorida Georgia Line

Florida Georgia Line's "Cruise" spent 24 weeks on top of the Country chart - the most ever until Sam Hunt's "Body Like a Back Road" was #1 for 34 weeks. The record was previously held by Eddy Arnold's "I'll Hold You in My Heart (1947-48), Hank Snow's "I'm Moving On" (1950-51) and Webb Pierce's "In the Jailhouse Now" (1955), which each led for 21 weeks.

GhosttownMadonna

"Ghosttown" was Madonna's 45th chart-topper on the Dance Club Songs chart, breaking the record for the most #1s an artist has tallied on a single Billboard chart.

Sour TimesPortishead

The eerie percussion and guitar for Portsihead's "Sour Times" was sampled from Lalo Schifrin's "Danube Incident," music composed by the Argentine composer for an episode of Mission Impossible.

Nothin' On YouB.o.B

When "Nothin' On You" reached #1 on the Hot 100, B.o.B became the first American act whose name is a palindrome to top the chart. The other two who did so prior to the Atlanta rapper were both Scandinavian groups - ABBA and A-Ha.

Rocket QueenGuns N' Roses

The moans of pleasure in the Guns N' Roses song "Rocket Queen" are authentic.

Editor's Picks

Bob DaisleySongwriter Interviews

Bob was the bass player and lyricist for the first two Ozzy Osbourne albums. Here's how he wrote songs like "Crazy Train" and "Mr. Crowley" with Ozzy and Randy Rhoads.

David Bowie Leads the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Long-Haired MenSong Writing

Bowie's "activist" days of 1964 led to Ziggy Stardust.

Al Jourgensen of MinistrySongwriter Interviews

In the name of song explanation, Al talks about scoring heroin for William Burroughs, and that's not even the most shocking story in this one.

Linda PerrySongwriter Interviews

Songwriting Hall of Famer Linda Perry talks about her songs "What's Up" and "Beautiful," her songwriting process, and her move into film music.

Danny Clinch: The Art of Rock PhotographySong Writing

One of rock's top photographers talks about artistry in photography, raising funds for a documentary, and enjoying a County Fair with Tom Waits.

Boy BandsFact or Fiction

From NKOTB to 1D, how well do you know your boy bands?