"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.

[2] The song tells a story of the chase of a lost love along the course of Mississippi River from Saint Paul, Minnesota to New Orleans, Louisiana.

A verse omitted from the original recording was later performed during Johnny Cash's live performances.

[3] A demo recording from the Sun sessions featuring the omitted verse also exists and has been released on numerous Sun compilations.