Proud Mary a drug song?

I have heard something about Proud Mary being a drug song. Supposedly Proud Mary is, you guessed it, marijuana, and that's what keeps on burning as they roll down the river. I think it's only a drug song if you make it one and i would like to know more about this and what others think.

Don't be ridiculous. It's about a riverboat. I've always thought of the "burning" as the smoke coming off the smokestacks. I used to be a member of the "drug culture" when they came out, and no one I know has Ever thought that. If fact, reading this, is the first I've ever even heard of it.

Thank you, i didn't believe it at all; I posted because it came up in my English class as part of someones project for "songs of protest."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metaphor


anyone from the 60's 70's knows its about marijuana.
Its completely obvious.

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

[freebird]

I don't think that proud mary talks about drugs, it's a big error, surely some song talks about drugs and things related.. but Proud Mary? no, It's a love song I guess.

[CreedenceGal]

John Fogerty said that he wrote the song the day he got discharged from the military for his service. He was so ecstatic that he ran upstairs and stummed out the introduction right there. He later said it was about the hardships one faces to make it in life.

"Cleaned a lot of plates in Memphis, pumped a lotta pain down in New Orleans"

The intro to the song, plus lyrics such as the ones above demonstrate a heavy emphasis on working for a living and the difficulties that come with it.

He also said he had tried marijuana a few times but never stuck with it because he liked being in control of his body. The sensation of being "high" was not in his better interests.

[Tony Trout]

It's NOT about drugs! Why in the world does every freakin' song in the 70s have to be about drugs???

The song is about a riverboat! Simple as that!

Originally Posted by CreedenceGal

"Cleaned a lot of plates in Memphis, pumped a lotta pain down in New Orleans"

The second part of those lyrics is always incorrect. It should be: "Cleaned a lot of plates in Memphis, pumped a lot of 'tane (octane) down in New Orleans"

[irishaus]

I really doubt that PROUD MARY is a song about drugs or drug usage.

[Tony Trout]

Originally Posted by irishaus

I really doubt that PROUD MARY is a song about drugs or drug usage.

It's about a RIVERBOAT that has a paddlewheel hence the line, "Big wheel keep on turnin', "Proud Mary" keep on burnin'"!