Meaning of "Big River" by Beat Farmers

The lyrics of "Big River" tell the story of unrequited love and the desperation that comes with chasing after someone who does not feel the same way. The narrator's futile attempts to win back the woman he loves are symbolized by teaching the willow to cry and the clouds to cover the sky. The river serves as both a literal and metaphorical representation of the woman's freedom and her inability to be tied down by anyone, including the narrator. The repeated emphasis on the tears flooding the river and the narrator's ultimate decision to sit and wait until he dies suggests a sense of resignation and acceptance of his unfulfilled love. The woman's choice to continue down the river and the narrator's acknowledgment that she loves the river more than him highlight the theme of unattainable love and the pain of letting go.