"Big River" is a song written and originally recorded by
Johnny Cash. Released as a single by
Sun Records in 1958, it went as high as #4 on the Billboard country music charts and stayed on the charts for 14 weeks.[1]
A verse omitted from the original recording was later performed during Johnny Cash's live performances.[2] A demo recording from the Sun sessions featuring the omitted verse also exists and has been released on numerous Sun compilations.
Chart performance
Chart (1958)
Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles
4
U.S. Billboard Hot 100
14
Cover versions
Ian Tyson (of
Ian and Sylvia) included a spirited version of Big River on the duo's Lovin' Sound album released in 1967, with David Rae on lead guitar.
Bob Dylan and
The Band recorded two takes of the song in 1967 during
The Basement Tapes sessions. They were officially released on November 4, 2014, on The Bootleg Series Vol. 11: The Basement Tapes Complete.
Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash also recorded a version of the song together at the 1969 Dylan-Cash sessions. This version was officially released on November 1, 2019, on The Bootleg Series Vol. 15: Travelin' Thru, 1967–1969.
Johnny Cash was featured in a cover performed by
The Highwaymen, a country supergroup featuring Cash,
Willie Nelson,
Waylon Jennings and
Kris Kristofferson. This cover is slightly more upbeat, skewing to "Outlaw Country," and features the verse Cash omitted when he first recorded the song for Sun (Jennings sang the verse on the studio recording and in live performances, which allowed each member of the group to sing a verse).
Tim Armstrong covered the song in 2012 during his Guitar Center session.