[cliffashford]

Left a good job in the city (Used to work a 'normal' job in the city)
Workin' for the man ev'ry night and day (regular hours working for a boss)
And I never lost one minute of sleepin' (and once he'd left he had no doubts)
Worryin' 'bout the way things might have been (or second thoughts)

Big wheel keep on turnin' (The single paddle wheel of a stern wheeler)
Proud Mary keep on burnin' (Proud Mary is a paddle steamer - coal fired)
Rollin', rollin', rollin' on the river (The 'big wheel' looks almost like it rolls along the river)

Cleaned a lot of plates in Memphis (Washed dishes in Memphis)
Pumped a lot of pain ['tane/'pane - octane/propane] down in New Orleans(Pumped gas in New Orleans)
But I never saw the good side of the city (But didn't see the best of either city)
'Til I hitched a ride on a river boat queen (until he saw it from the perspective of the river)

Chorus

If you come down to the river (An invitation to do the same thing)
Bet you gonna find some people who live (People who work on the river live a more 'real' life)
You don't have to worry 'cause you have [if you got] no money (Anyone can live on the river - even the poorest)
People on the river are happy to give (because river people are generous and welcoming)

Chorus