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Big River

Chords

4.9897 votes

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Font15

KeyOriginal

Chords

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Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

1/19

Tempo 80 BPMVol

Sound:

Position

Step 1 / 19Position: 2

1 index2 middle3 ring4 pinkyO openSpace = play/pause

Capo 1st fret to match Cash's recording.
[Intro]
e|----------------------------------------------------------------|
B|----------------------------------------------------------------|
G|----------------------------------------------------------------|
D|----------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---2-2-2------5--5--5--------2-2-2-2-----5--5--5----------------|
E|---------2-0--3--3--3-0-------------2-0--3--3--3-0--------------|
[Verse 1]
Now I Etaught the weeping willow how to cry,
And I showed the clouds how to cover up a cF#lear blue B7sky.
And the Etears that I cried for that woman are gonna Aflood you Big River.
Then EI'm gonna sit right B7here until I dEie
[Verse 2]
I mEet her accidentally in St. Paul (Minnesota).
And it tore me up every time I heard her dF#rawl, southern dB7rawl.
Then I hEeard my dream was back downstream cavAortin' in Davenport,
And I fEollowed you, Big B7River, when you cEalled.
(Instrumental)
[Verse 3]
Then you Etook me to St. Louis later on (down the river).
A freighter said she's been here but she's gF#one, boy, she's gB7one.
I fEound her trail in Memphis, but she Ajust walked up the bluff.
She raised a Efew eyebrows and then she B7went on down aElone.
[Verse 4]
Now, won't you Ebatter down by Baton Rouge, River Queen, roll it on.
Take that woman on down to New OrF#leans, New OrB7leans.
Go Eon, I've had enough, dump my bAlues down in the gulf.
EShe loves you, Big B7River, more than Eme.
(Instrumental)
[Verse 5]
Now I Etaught the weeping willow how to cry, cry, cry,
And I showed the clouds how to cover up a cF#lear blue B7sky.
And the Etears that I cried for that woman are gonna Aflood you Big River.
Then EI'm gonna sit right B7here until I dEie.E7  

The story behind the song

"Big River" is a song written and originally recorded by Johnny Cash, released as a single by Sun Records in 1958. It tells the story of a chase for a lost love along the Mississippi River, from Minnesota to Louisiana. A verse omitted from the original recording was later performed during Johnny Cash's live shows, and a demo with this verse also exists.

AI-written from these sources:Big River (Johnny Cash song) — Wikipedia ↗Johnny Cash — Wikipedia ↗MusicBrainz ↗

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670,000+ free guitar chords · free-chords.com

Big River

by Johnny Cash

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Capo 1st fret to match Cash's recording.

[Intro]

e|----------------------------------------------------------------|

B|----------------------------------------------------------------|

G|----------------------------------------------------------------|

D|----------------------------------------------------------------|

A|---2-2-2------5--5--5--------2-2-2-2-----5--5--5----------------|

E|---------2-0--3--3--3-0-------------2-0--3--3--3-0--------------|

[Verse 1]

Now I taught the weeping willow how to cry,

F# B7

And I showed the clouds how to cover up a clear blue sky.

E A

And the tears that I cried for that woman are gonna flood you Big River.

E B7 E

Then I'm gonna sit right here until I die

[Verse 2]

I met her accidentally in St. Paul (Minnesota).

F# B7

And it tore me up every time I heard her drawl, southern drawl.

E A

Then I heard my dream was back downstream cavortin' in Davenport,

E B7 E

And I followed you, Big River, when you called.

(Instrumental)

[Verse 3]

Then you took me to St. Louis later on (down the river).

F# B7

A freighter said she's been here but she's gone, boy, she's gone.

E A

I found her trail in Memphis, but she just walked up the bluff.

E B7 E

She raised a few eyebrows and then she went on down alone.

[Verse 4]

Now, won't you batter down by Baton Rouge, River Queen, roll it on.

F# B7

Take that woman on down to New Orleans, New Orleans.

E A

Go on, I've had enough, dump my blues down in the gulf.

E B7 E

She loves you, Big River, more than me.

(Instrumental)

[Verse 5]

Now I taught the weeping willow how to cry, cry, cry,

F# B7

And I showed the clouds how to cover up a clear blue sky.

E A

And the tears that I cried for that woman are gonna flood you Big River.

E B7 E E7

Then I'm gonna sit right here until I die.

About Big River Chords by Johnny Cash

Learn how to play Big River by Johnny Cash with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Big River chords”, “Big River guitar chords”, or “Johnny Cash Big River chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy Big River chords and for experienced players who want accurate Big River lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include B, G, D, A, E, F#.

FAQ — Big River by Johnny Cash

How do I play "Big River" by Johnny Cash on guitar?

Open the free chords for "Big River" by Johnny Cash on Free Chord Book. Tap any chord to see its diagram, use transpose to change the key, and turn on auto-scroll to play hands-free.

Are the chords for "Big River" by Johnny Cash free?

Yes. The chords for "Big River" by Johnny Cash are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "Big River" to a different key?

Yes. Use the transpose buttons on the song page to shift "Big River" up or down by half-steps so it matches your vocal range or capo position.

Can I see chord diagrams for "Big River"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "Big River" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "Big River" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "Big River" by Johnny Cash with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Johnny Cash below.

What key is "Big River" in?

The chords for "Big River" show the original chord names (including B, G, D, A, E, F#). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.