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'
Proud Mary keep on burnin'
Rollin', rollin', rollin' up 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 a city
'Til I hitched a ride on the riverboat queen

Chorus:
Big wheel keep on turnin'
Proud Mary keep on burnin'
Rollin', rollin', rollin' on the river
Rollin', rollin', rollin' on the river

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

Chorus

Cleaned a lot of plates in Memphis
Pumped a lot of pain down in New Orleans
And I never lost one minute of sleepin'
Worryin' 'bout the way
Things might have been

Chorus

If you come down to the river
Bet you're gonna find some people who live
You don't have to worry
'Cause you got no money
People on the river are happy to give

Chorus

Rollin', rollin', rollin' on the river
Rollin', rollin', rollin' on the river
Rollin', rollin', rollin' on the river
Rollin', rollin', rollin' on the river