"Big River" is a song written and originally recorded by Johnny Cash

Johnny Cash

John R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...

. Released as a single by Sun Records

Sun Records

Sun Records is a record label founded in Memphis, Tennessee, starting operations on March 27, 1952.Founded by Sam Phillips, Sun Records was known for giving notable musicians such as Elvis Presley , Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison, and Johnny Cash...

 in 1958, it went as high as #4 on the Billboard country music charts and stayed on the charts for 14 weeks. A verse omitted from the original recording was later performed during Johnny Cash's live performances.

Cover versions

The Grateful Dead often played a cover version

Cover version

In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...

 of this song during live performances, and is reputed to be the song most often played by the band. It appears on many of their concert recordings, such as Dick's Picks Volume 1

Dick's Picks Volume 1

Dick's Picks Volume 1 is the first live album in the Dick's Picks series of releases by the Grateful Dead. It was recorded on December 19, 1973 at Curtis Hixon Hall in Tampa, Florida, and contains a rare "Nobody's Fault But Mine"....

(Grateful Dead Records

Grateful Dead Records

In 1973, the Grateful Dead established their own record label, Grateful Dead Records. The band released several vinyl record LPs on this label in the mid-1970s, including Wake of the Flood in 1973, From the Mars Hotel in 1974, Blues for Allah in 1975, and a live double album, Steal Your Face, in...

). It was also included in a 2003 tribute to Johnny Cash, Johnny's Blues: A Tribute To Johnny Cash

Johnny's Blues: A Tribute To Johnny Cash

Johnny's Blues: A Tribute To Johnny Cash is a 2003 compilation album, released by Northern Blues Music, of blues-oriented songs made popular by Johnny Cash, sung by various Canadian and American performers.- Track listing :...

(Northern Blues), in a version by Colin Linden

Colin Linden

Colin Linden is a Canadian musician, songwriter and record producer. He has worked with a wide variety of artists including Bruce Cockburn, Lucinda Williams, T-Bone Burnett, Colin James, Leon Redbone, Rita Chiarelli, Chris Thomas King and The Band.Linden is primarily a electric blues guitarist,...

. Trick Pony

Trick Pony

Trick Pony was an American country music group. It was formed in 1996 by Keith Burns , Ira Dean , and Heidi Newfield . The group recorded three studio albums: Trick Pony, On a Mission and R.I.D.E., released in 2001, 2002 and 2005, respectively...

 recorded a version of Big River with Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings

Waylon Jennings

Waylon Arnold Jennings was an American country music singer, songwriter, and musician. Jennings began playing at eight. He began performing at twelve, on KVOW radio. Jennings formed a band The Texas Longhorns. Jennings worked as a D.J on KVOW, KDAV and KLLL...

 on their debut album. Secret Sisters recorded a version with Jack White in 2010. Australian band Cold Chisel included a live version of the song on their 2003 Ringside reunion tour and DVD. Hank Williams Jr. covered this song on his 1970 album; Singing My Songs - Johnny Cash, which exclusively contains songs by Johnny Cash.

Chart performance

Chart (1958)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles	4
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	14