Big River Chords

KeyG CapoNone TuningStandard Difficulty Plays496

Big River by Johnny Cash is a moderately challenging guitar song played in the key of G. It uses the chords G, E, F#, B7 and A. Use the transpose and diagram tools on this page to change the key, see each shape, or simplify the chords.

Transpose
G
Text
16
Speed
  			(from "The Songs of Johnny Cash")  

When Johnny does his "Big River thrust to the mic. he goes from G to E really quick at the end of each verse." 


  
      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.  
  
  
2. I met her accidentally in St. Paul (Minnesota).  
   And it tore me up ev'ry 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.  
  
3. 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.  
  
4. 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.  
  
5. Repeat 1  

    	

Chord diagrams

Guitar tuner

--
Start the tuner and play a string

Reference tones

Standard tuning, lowest to highest. Click a string to play it; the string the mic hears is highlighted.

Click Start tuner and allow microphone access. The needle centers and turns green when a string is in tune (within 5 cents).
No microphone? You can still tap any string above to hear its exact reference pitch.

Metronome

100 BPM Andante