Left a good job in the city
Working for the man every night and day
And I never lost one minute of sleeping,
Worrying about the way things might have been.

Big wheel keeps on turning,
Proud Mary keeps on burning,
Rolling, rolling, rolling 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 the city,
Until I hitched a ride on a river boat queen.

Big wheel keeps on turning,
Proud Mary keeps on burning,
Rolling, rolling, rolling on the river.

If [bad word] down to the river
Bet you going to 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 keeps on turning,
Proud Mary keeps on burning,
Rolling, rolling, rolling on the river...