Well I left a good job in the city a workin' for the man every night and day
And I never lost one minute of sleep
While worryin' bout the way things might have been
Big wheels keep on turnin' Proud Mary keeps on burnin'
I said rollin' rollin' rollin' on the river

I cleaned a lot of plates in Memphis 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 this river boat queen
Big wheels keep on turnin'
[ guitar ]
Well if you come down to the river well I bet you 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
I said the big wheels keep on turnin'
[ guitar ]
I said rollin' rollin' rollin' on the river