Roots Rock

The song was written by John Fogerty and originally recorded by Creedence Clearwater Revival in 1969. They released on their 1969 album Bayou Country as well as a single backed with “Born on the Bayou.” Their single was an international success, going to #2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and in Canada, as well as #8 in the U.K. Ike and Tina Turner covered the song with their own rearranged version of it courtesy of Ike Turner and Soko Richardson. As Tina says, they start it “nice and easy” and then do it “nice and rough” with a rock funk gospel touch. They released it on their 1971 album Workin’ Together and as a single. In 1971, their version went to #4 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, #5 on the R&B Chart, #5 in The Netherlands, and #11 in Canada. It went on to become one of Tina Turner’s signature songs. In 1972 they won a Grammy Award for “Proud Mary” for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Group.

Here are the lyrics to “Proud Mary” by Ike and Tina Turner:

Y’ know, every now and then
I think you might like to hear something from us
Nice and easy
But there’s just one thing
You see we never ever do nothing
Nice and easy
We always do it nice and rough
We’re gonna take the beginning of this song
And do it easy
Then we’re gonna do the finish rough
This is the way we do “Proud Mary”

Rolling, rolling, rolling on the river
Listen to the story now

I left a good job in the city
Working for the man every night and day
And I never lost one minute of sleeping
Worrying ’bout the way things might have been

Big wheel keep on turning
Oo the Proud Mary keep on burning
And we’re rolling, rolling,rolling yeah
Rolling on the river

Cleaned a lot of plates in Memphis
And I pumped a lot of tane down in New Orleans
But I never saw the good side of the city
Until I hitched a ride on a riverboat queen

Big wheel keep on turning
Oo the proud Mary keep on burning
And we’re rolling, rolling ,rolling yeah
Rolling on the river
Said we’re rolling, rolling ,rolling(rolling)
Rolling on the river (rolling on the river)

I left a good job in the city
Working for the man every night and day
And I never lost one minute of sleeping
Worrying ’bout the way things might have been

Big wheel keep on turning
Proud Mary keep on burning
Rolling, rolling
Rolling on the river

Rolling, rolling
Rolling on the river

Cleaned a lot of plates in Memphis
Pumped a lot of tane down in New Orleans
But I never saw the good side of the city
‘Till I hitched a ride on a riverboat queen

Big wheel keep on turning
Proud Mary keep on burning
And we’re rolling, rolling ,rolling
Rolling on the river
Said we’re rolling, rolling ,rolling
Rolling on the river

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
The people on the river are happy to give

Big wheel keep on turning
Proud Mary keep on burning
Rolling, said rolling
Rolling on the river
Rolling, rolling
Rolling on the river

Rolling, rolling
Rolling on the river
Rolling, rolling
Rolling on the river
Rolling, rolling
Rolling on the river

For More 70s Tunes

The System has daily featured music from all sorts of genres of 1970s music. You’re welcome to listen to any of the 40+ selections in The System. Thank you for stopping by. Hope you enjoyed “Proud Mary” by Ike and Tina Turner.