Left a good job in the city Working for the man every night and day Then I never lost a minute of sleeping Worrying 'bout the way things might have been Big wheels keep 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 'Til I hitched a ride on a river boat queen Big wheels keep on turning Proud Mary keeps on burning Rolling Rolling Rolling on the river If you come down to the river Betcha gonna find some 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 Rolling Rolling Rolling on the river