Proud Mary – English Lyrics

• By: Glee, New Directions, Artie, Mercedes, Tina

Lyrics & Translation

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
roll /roʊl/ A2	verb - to move along a surface by turning over and over noun - a single turn or rotation
river /ˈrɪvər/ A1	noun - a large natural stream of water flowing in a channel to the sea, a lake, or another such stream.
job /dʒɒb/ A1	noun - a paid position of regular employment
city /ˈsɪti/ A1	noun - a large town or metropolis
work /wɜːrk/ A1	verb - to expend effort toward something noun - activity involving mental or physical effort done in order to achieve a purpose or result
man /mæn/ A1	noun - an adult male human being
night /naɪt/ A1	noun - the period from sunset to sunrise in each twenty-four hours
day /deɪ/ A1	noun - the period from sunrise to sunset
sleep /sliːp/ A1	verb - be in a state of sleep. noun - a condition of body and mind such as that which typically recurs for several hours every night, in which the nervous system is inactive, the eyes closed, the postural muscles relaxed, and consciousness practically suspended.
worry /ˈwʌri/ B1	verb - to feel or show anxiety and concern about actual or potential problems noun - a state of anxiety and concern about actual or potential problems.
big /bɪɡ/ A1	adjective - of considerable size, extent, or intensity
wheel /wiːl/ A2	noun - a circular object that revolves on an axle and is fixed below a vehicle or other object to enable it to move easily over the ground
turn /tɜːrn/ A2	verb - to move in a circular direction around a central point noun - an act of moving something so that it is in a different position in relation to its starting point
proud /praʊd/ B1	adjective - feeling deep pleasure or satisfaction as a result of one's own achievements, qualities, or possessions or those of someone with whom one is closely associated.
burn /bɜːrn/ A2	verb - to be damaged or destroyed by fire. noun - an injury caused by exposure to heat or flame.

Key Grammar Structures

• Left a good job in the city

  ➔ Past simple tense

  ➔ The phrase uses the past simple tense to indicate a completed action in the past, specifically the action of leaving a job.

• And I never lost one minute of sleep

  ➔ Negative form in past simple

  ➔ The use of 'never' creates a negative statement in the past simple tense, emphasizing that the speaker did not lose any sleep.

• Big wheel keep on turnin'

  ➔ Present simple tense for habitual actions

  ➔ The present simple tense is used here to express a habitual action, indicating that the 'big wheel' continuously turns.

• If you come down to the river

  ➔ Conditional sentence (type 1)

  ➔ This is a first conditional sentence, which is used to talk about real and possible situations in the future.

• People on the river are happy to give

  ➔ Present continuous tense

  ➔ The present continuous tense is used to describe an ongoing action or state, indicating that the people are currently happy to give.