☝️ Key Points
- The song 'Big River' is a metaphorical representation of a man's sorrow and search for a lost love.
- The protagonist expresses that his sorrow is so strong that it has affected nature and flooded his 'Big River'.
- After following the woman from town to town, the man comes to the realization that she has moved on and he likely won't find her again.
- In the final verse, the man accepts the loss of his love and asks the river to wash away his sadness and set him free.
- 'Big River' is a song about overcoming loss, acceptance, and letting go of sorrow.
Interpretation
The song 'Big River' by
Johnny Cash is mainly about a man who has been left by a woman and is now expressing his sorrow. The river in this song, the 'Big River', is a metaphor for life and the journey the man undertakes to find his lost love.
In the first verse, the singer says, 'Now I taught the weeping willow how to cry, And I showed the clouds how to cover up a clear blue sky.' This means that his sorrow is so great that even nature reflects his sadness. The tears he sheds for the woman will flood the 'Big River', indicating that his sadness and loss overwhelm him.
Throughout the song, the man follows the river to find the woman who left him. He travels from St. Paul to Davenport, then to St. Louis, and finally to Memphis, only to discover that the woman has moved on. This shows his determination and desperation to find his lost love.
In the last verse of the song, it seems that the man gives up his search and accepts that the woman loves the 'Big River' more than him. He asks the river to take his sadness and sorrow with it to the Gulf: 'Go on, I've had enough; Dump my blues down in the gulf.' This shows his resignation and desire to let go of his sorrow.
Overall, 'Big River' is an emotional expression of loss, sorrow, and ultimately acceptance of the loss of a loved one.