You know
Every now and then I think you might like to hear something from us
(Left a good job down in the city)
Nice and easy
But there's just one thing, you see (workin' for the man every night and day)
We never ever do nothin'
(But I never lost one minute of sleepin') nice and easy
We always do it nice and rough
(Worryin' 'bout the way that things might've been)
And we're gonna take the beginning of this song and do it easy
(Big wheel keep on turnin')
But then we're gonna do the finish rough
(Proud Mary keep on burnin') this is the way we do "Proud Mary"

And we rollin', rollin'
Rollin' on the river
Listen to the story now

Left a good job down in the city
Workin' for the man every night and day
And I never lost one minute of sleepin'
I was worryin' 'bout the way that things might've been

Big wheel keep on turnin'
Ooh, the Proud Mary keep on burnin'
And we're rollin' (rollin'), rollin', yeah (rollin')
Rollin' on the river (rollin' on the river)

Cleaned a lot of plates in Memphis
And I pumped a lot of 'tane down in New Orleans
But I never saw the good side of the city
Until I hitched a ride on the riverboat queen

You know the big wheel keep on turnin'
Proud Mary keep on burnin'
And we're rollin' (rollin'), rollin', yeah (rollin')
Rollin' on the river (rollin' on the river)
Say we're rollin' (rollin'), rollin' (rollin')
Rollin' on the river (rollin' on the river)

Oh, I left a good job in the city
Workin' for the man every night and day
And I never lost one minute of sleepin'
Worryin' 'bout the way things might have been

Big wheel keep on turnin' (turnin')
Proud Mary keep on burnin' (burnin')
Rollin' (yeah), rollin' (alright)
Rollin' on the river (go 'head now)
Rollin' (oh), say we're rollin' (yeah)
Rollin' on the river

We're up, do do do do do do do do do do do
Alright

Cleaned a lot of plates in Memphis, y'all
Pumped a lot of 'tane down in New Orleans
But I never saw the good side of the city
'Til I hitched a ride on the riverboat queen

Big wheel keep on turnin' (turnin')
Proud Mary keep on burnin' (burnin')
Rollin' (oh), rollin' (yeah)
Rollin' on the river (go 'head now)
Say we're rollin', rollin'
Rollin' on the river

We're up, do do do do do do do do do do do
Alright
Yeah
Ooh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Alright, yeah, yeah, yeah
Ooh yeah, yeah

If you come down to the river
Now, I bet you gonna find some people who live
You don't have to worry if you got no money
The people on the river are happy to give

Big wheel keep on turnin' (turnin')
Proud Mary keep on burnin' (burnin')
Rollin' (yeah), say we rollin' (yeah)
Rollin' on the river (alright now)
Rollin', rollin'
Rollin' on the river

We're up, do do do do do do do do do do do
Woo
Alright
Woo, alright, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Rollin', alright
Alright now, yeah

Rollin' (yeah), rollin' (uh-huh)
Rollin' on the river (give me one more time)
Rollin' (yeah), rollin' (woo-wee)
Rollin' on the river
Rollin' (ow), rollin' (yeah)
Rollin' on the river
Rollin' (yeah), rollin'


Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings

Proud Mary Lyrics as written by John Cameron Fogerty

Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Proud Mary song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

2 Comments

sort form View by:
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think it is about people who change their life immediately, because they just fed up with their stressful and slavish lifestyle. It doesn't matter if the "man" is a lover or your boss, you have to leave it if it has bad effect on you. They change everything and jump on Proud Mary's boat what is actually burning. Despite that they don't care at that point of their life, because they have to step into some risky situations to get out from this boring and bad period. And since the boat is keep on burning, they really need to be brave and left everything behind from this negative environment. The river is their lifeline and on this river they "don't have to worry", because a lots of nicer people waiting for them in the future. The song starts slow and then it is getting crazier and more rough. I think, this is the process how we start to hesitate about things and after that we just do it strong and confident. I love this song, it can help a lot in different situations in my life. So what we have to do is to "rolling and rolling" on this river.....

    Tripikeon April 30, 2014   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Sounds like sexual intercourse. But not really.

    beckdaveson December 25, 2015   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Jesse with the long hair....
Robert Earl Keen, Jr.
Classic love story true to his western tx roots. One of my favorites as a story, but I think there are alot of songs that are amazing not even listed on this site. I guess I should figure out how to add them, because I have about 8 REK cd's.
Album art
The Spy
Doors, The
Like a lot of the other comments are saying, I think this mainly about voyeurism. If the song was about his girlfriend, then why would he use the word spy. If you are a spy it means you shouldn't be caught, that is kind of the whole point, and if you are a voyeur, the whole point of the pleasure you get from it, is the fact that the other people don't know you are watching them. See a bit of a connection there?
Album art
Battle Royale
Word Alive, The
This song is def a twin to "Unfair" (a song she has been quoted as saying is about falling in love with someone who is already in a relationship) so it is presumably about the same person. Given the references to buying an apartment and not being able to see her love interest "after tonight," it's most likely that she's moving away and she'll "wait a day to break the bad news" (i.e. notifying him that she's leaving once she's already gone). And, of course, the fact that she sees in him a fellow "idealist" and "dreamer" (terms commonly given to people with the INFP personality on the Myers–Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)) portends that she'll always be left wondering if they would've been perfect together.
Album art
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
In regards to the meaning of this song: Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.” That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Album art
Holiday
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday". I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.