I left a good job in the city a working for the man every night and day And I never lost one minute of sleep And worryin' bout the way things might have been Big wheels keep on turning Proud Mary keeps on burning Rollin' rollin' rollin' on the river I cleaned a lot of plates in Memphis I copped a lot of cane down in New Orleans But I never saw the good side of the city till I hitched a ride on a river boat queen Big wheels keep on turning Proud Mary keeps on burning Rollin' rollin' rollin' on the river [ guitar - steel ] If you come down to the river I bet you gonna find the people who live You don't have to worry if you have no money people on the river are happy to give Big wheels keep on turning Proud Mary keeps on burning Rollin' rollin' rollin' on the river rollin' rollin' rollin' on the river Rollin' rollin' rollin' on the river