Left a good job in the city Workin' for the Man every night and day But I never lost a minute of sleepin' Worryin' 'bout the way things might have been Big wheel keep on turnin' Proud Mary keep on burnin' Rollin', rollin', rollin' on the river Cleaned a lot of plates in Memphis Pumped a lot of pain down in New Orleans But I never saw the good side of a city 'Til I hitched a ride on the riverboat queen Big wheel keep on turnin' Proud Mary keep on burnin' Rollin', rollin', rollin' on the river If you come down to the River Bet you're gonna find some people who live You don't have to worry 'cause you have no money People on the river are happy to give Big wheel keep on turnin' Proud Mary keep on burnin' Rollin', rollin', rollin' on the river