Proud Mary – English Lyrics

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

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the vibrant world of English through "Proud Mary" as performed by the Glee Cast! This energetic cover, central to a pivotal episode, offers a fantastic way to grasp English in action. You'll learn idiomatic expressions, understand storytelling through song, and appreciate how cultural context can reinterpret a classic. The clear vocals and dynamic performance make it ideal for practicing listening comprehension and expanding your vocabulary, all while enjoying a powerful message of unity and perseverance.

[English]

Rollin', rollin', rollin' on a river

This one's for you Artie

Left a good job in the city

Workin' for the man every night and day

And I never lost one minute of sleep

And I was worryin' about the way that things might have been

Big wheel keep on turnin'

Ooh, the proud Mary keep on burnin'

And we're rollin'

(Rollin')

Rollin', yeah

(Rollin')

Rollin' on the river

(Rollin' on the river)

Said, "We're rollin'"

(Rollin')

Rollin'

(Rollin')

Rollin' on the river

(Rollin' on the river)

So I left a good job in the city

Workin' for the man every night and day

And I never lost one minute of sleepin'

Worryin' about the way things might have been

Big wheels keep on turnin'

(Turnin')

Proud Mary keep on burnin'

(Burnin')

Rollin'

(Rollin')

Rollin'

(Yeah)

Rollin' on the river

(Rollin' on the river)

Rollin'

(Rollin')

Rollin'

(Yeah)

Rollin' on the river

Cleaned a lot of plates in Memphis y'all

(Memphis y'all)

Pumped a lot of 'tane down in New Orleans

(New Orleans)

But I never saw the good side of the city

'Til I hitched a ride on the river boat Queen

Big wheel keep on turnin'

(Turnin')

Proud Mary keep on burnin'

(Burnin')

Rollin'

(Rollin')

Rollin'

(Rollin')

Rollin' on the river

(Rollin' on the river)

Rollin'

(Yeah)

Rollin'

(Rollin')

Rollin' on the river

(Rollin' on the river)

If you come down to the river

I bet you're 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

Big wheel keep on turnin'

(Turnin')

Proud Mary keep on burnin'

(Burnin')

Rollin'

Rollin'

(Rollin')

Rollin' on a river

(Rollin' on a river)

Rollin'

Rollin'

(Yeah)

Rollin' on a river

(Rollin' on a river)

Rollin'

(Rollin')

Rollin'

(Rollin')

Rollin' on a river

(Rollin' on a river)

Rollin'

(Rollin')

Rollin'

(Yeah)

Rollin' on a river

Rollin' on a river

...

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.