TAB by Song : 3827
Tab List Area
1 Pages 1 Results
Big River by Johnny Cash
Big River
Tuning:E A D G B E
Key:F
Capo:1st fret
[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]
E
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]
E
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]
E
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]
E
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]
E
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.
------------------
version 2
Capo:no capo
E
Now a taught the weepin willow how ta cry
E7 E F#7 B7
And a showed the clouds how ta cover up,the clear blue sky
E E7 A7
And the tears a cried for that woman,are gonna,flood you big river
E B7 E G/E/G/E/G/E
Then am gonna sit right here until a die
E
I met her accidently in St Paul,Minnesota
E7 E F#7 B7
An it tore me up everytime a heard her drawl,Southern drawl
E E7 A7
Then a heard ma dream was back downstream cavortin in Davenport
E B7 E G/E/G/E/G/E
And a follwed you,big river,when you called
E
Then you took me to St Louis,later on,down the river
E7 E F#7 B7
A freighter said she's been here but she's gone,boy she's gone
E E7 A7
A found her trail in Memphis,but she just walked up the block
E B7 E G/E/G/E/G/E
She raised a few eyebrows,and then went on down alone
E
Now don't you batter down by Baton Rouge,River Queen,roll it on
E7 E F#7 B7
Take that woman on down to New Orleans,New Orleans
E E7 A7
Go on a've had enough,dump ma blues down in the gulf
E B7 E G/E/G/E/G/E
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.
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.
------------------
version 3
Tuning:E A D G B E
Tuning: Standard (Capo on 1)
[Intro]
E A E B7 E
e|----------0-0-0-0-----------0-0-0-0-----------0-0-0-0-----------0-0-0-0-----------2-2-2-2-----------0-0-0-0-|
B|----------0-0-0-0-----------0-0-0-0-----------2-2-2-2-----------0-0-0-0-----------0-0-0-0-----------0-0-0-0-|
G|----------1-1-1-1-----------1-1-1-1-----------2-2-2-2-----------1-1-1-1-----------2-2-2-2-----------1-1-1-1-|
D|----------2-2-2-2-----------2-2-2-2-2-2-0-----2-2-2-2-----------2-2-2-2-----------1-1-1-1-----------2-2-2-2-|
A|2-2-0-----2-2-2-2-2-2-0-----2-2-2-2-------2-0-0-0-0-0-2-2-0-----2-2-2-2-2-2-0-1-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-0-----2-2-2-2-|
E|------2-0-0-0-0-0-------2-0-0-0-0-0-------------------------2-0-0-0-0-0-------------------------2-0-0-0-0-0-|
[Verse 1]
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 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]
E
I met her accidentally in St. Paul, Minnesota
E F#7 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
[Break]
E E E E
A A E E
B7 B7 E E
[Verse 3]
E
Then you took me to St. Louis later on down the river
E F#7 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 block
E B7 E
She raised a few eyebrows and then she went on down alone
[Verse 4]
E
Now, won't you batter down by Baton Rouge, River Queen, roll it on
E F#7 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
[Verse 5]
E
Now I taught the weeping willow how to cry, cry, cry
E F#7 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
------------------
version 4
Capo:no capo
G
Now I taught the weeping willow how to cry
A7 D7
And I showed the clouds how to cover up a clear blue sky
G C
And the tears that I cried for that woman are gonna flood you Big River
G D7 G
Then I'm gonna sit right here until I die
I met her accidentally in St.Paul, Minnesota
A7 D7
And it tore me up every time I heard her drawl southern drawl
G C
Then I heard my dream was back downstream cavorting in Davenport
G D7 G
And I followed you Big River when you called
Then you took me to St. Louis later on down the river
A7 D7
A freighter said she's been here but she's gone boy she's gone
G C
I found her trail in Memphis but she just walked up the block
G D7 G
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
A7 D7
Take that woman on down to New Orleans New Orleans
G C
Go on I've had enough dump my blues down in the gulf
G D7 G
She loves you Big River more than me
G
Now I taught the weeping willow how to cry
A7 D7
And I showed the clouds how to cover up a clear blue sky
G C
And the tears that I cried for that woman are gonna flood you Big River
G D7 G
Then I'm gonna sit right here until I die
------------------
version 5
Tuning:E A D G B E
Key:F
Capo:1st fret
[Intro]
E G G E E G G E
e|--------------|---------------|---------------|----------------|-0--|
B|--------------|---------------|---------------|----------------|-0--|
G|--------------|---------------|---------------|----------------|-1--|
D|--------------|-----2---0---0-|-2-------------|-----2---0---0--|-2--|
A|---2-2-2p0----|-----2---2---2-|-2---2-2-2p0---|-----2---2---2--|-2--|
E|-----------3--|-0-------3---3-|-0-----------3-|-0-------3---3--|-0--|
[Verse 1]
E E
Now I taught the weeping willow how to cry,
E 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]
E E E
I met her accidentally in St. Paul, Minnesota.
E F# B7
And it tore me up ev'ry 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]
E G G E E G G E
e|--------------|---------------|---------------|----------------|----|
B|--------------|---------------|---------------|----------------|----|
G|--------------|---------------|---------------|----------------|-1--|
D|--------------|-----2---0---0-|-2-------------|-----2---0---0--|-2--|
A|---2-2-2p0----|-----2---2---2-|-2---2-2-2p0---|-----2---2---2--|-2--|
E|-----------3--|-0-------3---3-|-0-----------3-|-0-------3---3--|-0--|
A A A E G G E
e|--------------|---------------|---------------|----------------|-0--|
B|--------------|---------------|---------------|----------------|-0--|
G|--------------|-----2-------2-|---------------|----------------|-1--|
D|---2-2-2p0----|-----2-------2-|---------------|-----2---0---0--|-2--|
A|-----------2--|-0-------0-----|-0---2-2-2p0---|-----2---2---2--|-2--|
E|--------------|---------------|-------------3-|-0-------3---3--|-0--|
B7 B7 B7 E G G E
e|--------------|---------------|---------------|----------------|-0--|
B|--------------|---------------|---------------|----------------|-0--|
G|--------------|-----2-------2-|---------------|----------------|-1--|
D|--------------|-----1-------1-|---------------|-----2---0---0--|-2--|
A|---2-2-2p0-1--|-2-------------|-2---2-2-2p0---|-----2---2---2--|-2--|
E|--------------|---------2-----|-------------3-|-0-------3---3--|-0--|
[Verse 3]
E E E E
Then you took me to St. Louis later on (down the river).
E 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]
E E E E
Now, won't you batter down by Baton Rouge, River Queen, roll it on.
E F# B7
Take that woman on down to New Orleans, New Orleans.
E 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]
E G G E E G G E
e|--------------|---------------|---------------|----------------|----|
B|--------------|---------------|---------------|----------------|----|
G|--------------|---------------|---------------|----------------|-1--|
D|--------------|-----2---0---0-|-2-------------|-----2---0---0--|-2--|
A|---2-2-2p0----|-----2---2---2-|-2---2-2-2p0---|-----2---2---2--|-2--|
E|-----------3--|-0-------3---3-|-0-----------3-|-0-------3---3--|-0--|
1 2 & 3 & 4 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 1
A A A E G G E
e|--------------|---------------|---------------|----------------|-0--|
B|--------------|---------------|---------------|----------------|-0--|
G|--------------|-----2-------2-|---------------|----------------|-1--|
D|---2-2-2p0----|-----2-------2-|---------------|-----2---0---0--|-2--|
A|-----------2--|-0-------0-----|-0---2-2-2p0---|-----2---2---2--|-2--|
E|--------------|---------------|-------------3-|-0-------3---3--|-0--|
1 2 & 3 & 4 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 1
B7 B7 B7 E G G E
e|--------------|---------------|---------------|----------------|-0--|
B|--------------|---------------|---------------|----------------|-0--|
G|--------------|-----2-------2-|---------------|----------------|-1--|
D|--------------|-----1-------1-|---------------|-----2---0---0--|-2--|
A|---2-2-2p0-1--|-2-------------|-2---2-2-2p0---|-----2---2---2--|-2--|
E|--------------|---------2-----|-------------3-|-0-------3---3--|-0--|
1 2 & 3 & 4 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 1
[Verse 5]
E E E
Now I taught the weeping willow how to cry, cry, cry...
E E F# B7
And I showed the clouds how to cover up a clear blue sky.
E 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.
[Outro]
G G G E G G G E
| p Pull-off
------------------
version 6
Tuning:E A D G B E
Capo:no capo
[Intro]
e|---------------------------------------------------0m-0m-0m-0m-0m-0m-0m----|
B|---------------------------------------------------0m-0m-0m-0m-0m-0m-0m----|
G|---------------------------------------------------0m-0m-0m-0m-0m-0m-0m----|
D|---------------------------------------------------0m-0m-0m-0m-0m-0m-0m----|
A|---3-3-3-2----------------3-3-3-2----------------- 0m-0m-0m-0m-0m-0m3m-----|
E|-----------3b-1--3b3b3b-1---------3b-1--3b3b3b-1--1m-1m-1m-1m-3m-3m--------|
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.
| b Bend
------------------
version 7
Capo:no capo
Luther Perkins, Johnny Cash'selectric-guitarist, played this with a capo on the
first fret . . . seeing as how this only makes a half step difference, I'm not
clear why, but here it is anyway. You can play it with ot without the capo,
but it won't sound exactly like the song without it. The first bit is picked
open, the second bit is palm-muted.
[Intro]
E
e|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-2-2-2-2------5--5--5--------2-2-2-2-----5--5--5-------------------------------|
E|---------2-0--3--3--3-0-------------2-0--3--3--3-0-----------------------------|
Open PM.............Open PM........
Okay, now, remember that last part because it plays it many times through
the song while he sings. I'm going to give what the rythm guitar plays here first,
just open chords strummed (listen to the song to get the rythm, it's pointless
trying to write it down here). This is what Cash plays, although there seems
to also be a mandolin or another guitar capoed very high playing open chords
as well. I'll put Luther's electric guitar part underneath. If you're playing
this song by yourself, and not in a band, all you need is this. If you want
your band to sound even remotely like the original, you want one acoustic guitar
playing the open chords and an electric guitar playing Luther's part. Don't let
the B chord scare you, I've shown you an easy way to play it at the bottom.
E
Now I taught the weeping willow how to cry,
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.
[Solo]
(Played by Luther, rythm by Cash):
E
e|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-2-2-2-2------5--5--5--------2-2-2-2-----5--5--5-----------------------------|
E|---------2-0--3--3--3-0-------------2-0--3--3--3-0---------------------------|
Open PM.............Open PM.......
A E B7 E
e|------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-2-2-2-2-----2---2----------------------------------------4---4---------------|
A|---------2-0---0---0--2-2-2-2-----5--5--5----2-2-2-2-2--2---2---2--2-2-2-2----|
E|------------------------------2-0-3--3--3--0------------------------------2-0-|
Open PM....... Open PM........ Open PM.......... Open
Now for Luther's parts during the song . . . they're very, very simple, in fact
they're mostly power chords and variations on the intro. He does pretty much the
same thing throughout the whole song. There's not really much of a bass line to
this song, more of a thumping, and his guitar mimics a catchy bass line. What he
does is almost like strumming open chords, only he just plays the two strings at
a time. He has a clean sound with a tube amp, which still sound a bit rough.
Now I taught the weeping willow how to cry,
e|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---2---2---2---[continue until end of verse]5--5--5-------[revert to prior part]---|
E|-0-0-0-0-0-0-0------------------------------3--3--3--0-----------------------------|
PM..............................................................................
...cover up a clear blue sky.
e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|----------------4---4---4---4----------------------------------------------------|
A|--------------2-2-2-2-2---2------2---2---2---[continue until chord change]-------|
E|-------------------------------0-0-0-0-0-0-0-------------------------------------|
PM...............................................................................
...gonna flood you Big River, then I'm gonna sit right here until I die.
e|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-----------2---2---2-------------------------------------4---4-------------------|
A|---------0-0-0-0-0-0-0-[continue]----2---2-------------2-2-2-2------2--5-5-5-----|
E|-----------------------------------0-0-0-0--------------------------0--3-3-3-0---|
PM...............................................................................
And here's the ending, played by Luther and Cash together.
e|-------------------------------------------------------3-3-3-0--3-3-3-0-----------|
B|-------------------------------------------------------3-3-3-0--3-3-3-0-----------|
G|-[Luther Plays:]----------------------[Cash Plays:]----4-4-4-1--4-4-4-1-----------|
D|-------------------------------------------------------5-5-5-2--5-5-5-2-----------|
A|------------------5-5-5----5-5-5-----------------------5-5-5-2--5-5-5-2-----------|
E|------------------3-3-3-0--3-3-3-0---------------------3-3-3-0--3-3-3-0-----------|
PM..............
The chords for the rythm acoustic are as follows:
E B7 A
e|-0----2---0-------|
B|-0----0---3-------|
G|-1----2---3-------|
D|-2----1---3-------|
A|-2----2---0-------|
E|-0----X---X-------|
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.
| PM Palm mute
| X dead note
------------------
version 8
Capo:1st fret
INTRO: /RIFF#1. (x2)
E
---------------------------------------|
---------------------------------------|
---------------------------------------|
---------------------------------------|
---2-2-0------------2-2-0--------------|
----------2-0--------------2-0---------|
#1.
E
Now I taught the weeping willow how to cry.
B
And I showed the clouds how to cover up a clear blue sky.
E
And the tears that I cried for that woman are gonna
A
flood you Big River.
E B E E G E
Then I'm gonna sit right here until I die.
#2.
E
I met her accidentally in St. Paul, Minnesota.
B
And it tore me up every time I heard her drawl, Southern drawl.
E A
Then I heard my dream was back downstream, cav..ortin' in Davenport,
E B E E G E
and I followed you, Big River, when you called.
(INTERLUDE:)
RIFF:
-----------------------------------------------------------|
-----------------------------------------------------------|
-----------------------------------------------------------|
----------------------------2-2-0--------------------------|
----2-2-0------2-2-0---------------2--0------2-2-0---------|
----------2-0---------2-0---------------------------2-0----|
---------------------------------------------------|
---------------------------------------------------|
---------------------------------------------------|
----------1-1--------------------------------------|
---2-2-2-------2-----------------------------------|
-------------------2-0-----------------------------|
#3.
E
Then you took me to St. Louis, later on down the river.
B
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 block.
E B E E G E
She raised a few eyebrows and then she went on down alone.
#4.
E
Now, won't you batten down by Baton Rouge, River Queen, roll it on.
B
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 B E E G E E G E
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.
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.
-----------