"Proud Mary" by Credence Clearwater Reviva

Mississippi Queen. Digital image. Post Cards From. N.p., 4 Mar. 2003. Web. 28 Sept. 2015. <http://www.postcardsfrom.com/t1/980724.html>.

"Proud Mary" by Credence Clearwater Revival

Left a good job in the city
Workin' for the man ev'ry night and day
And I never lost one minute of sleepin'
Worryin' 'bout the way things might have been

Big wheel keep on turnin'
Proud Mary keep on burnin'
Rollin', rollin', rollin' 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
'Til I hitched a ride on a river boat queen

Big wheel keep on turnin'
Proud Mary keep on burnin'
Rollin', rollin', rollin' on the river
Rollin', rollin', rollin' on the river

If you come down to the river
Bet you gonna find some people who live
You don't have to worry 'cause you have [if you got] no money
People on the river are happy to give

Big wheel keep on turnin'
Proud Mary keep on burnin'
Rollin', rollin', rollin' on the river
Rollin', rollin', rollin' on the river

Rollin', rollin', rollin' on the river
Rollin', rollin', rollin' on the river
Rollin', rollin', rollin' on the river

"Proud Mary Lyrics." - Creedence Clearwater Revival. John Fogerty, 2 Aug. 2005. Web. 28 Sept. 2015. <http://www.lyricsfreak.com/c/creedence+clearwater+revival/proud+mary_20034308.html>.

           

            "Proud Mary" By Credence Clearwater Revival is an American classic that is sure to catch the attention of anyone listening. The song revolves around the theme of urban vs. rural life. The singer suggests that a rural lifestyle has more to offer in terms of family, support, love, etc. than an urban lifestyle. The lyrics embrace the idea of a tight-knit community associated with rural life.
           

            The song is told in the first person point of view. The song is also written as a "story," making it an anecdote as well. The combination of these two literary elements makes for a very convincing argument. They allow the reader to really envision what the singer is trying to get through to them. The diction, or lyrics, of the song also play an important role. The singer's rural dialect leads the listener to believe that the singer has already assumed a rural lifestyle because of its benefits. "But I never saw the good side of the city 'Till I hitched a ride on a river boat queen" (Credence Clearwater Revival). This implies that there is no benefit to city life from any point of view. The singer's best view of a city was the backside as he was leaving it on a riverboat.

            The singer's tone and the general feeling of the song are inspirational. Since the song is an anecdote, the singer's story allows him to be passionate about what he is singing about. The river in the song is a representation of how rural communities, especially those on a river, are physically and emotionally connected. "If you come down to the river Bet you gonna find some people who live You dont have to worry cause you have no money People on the river are happy to give" (Credence Clearwater Revival). The title, "Proud Mary," is a boat that represents the ever "turnin' and burnin'" love and support found in the rural lifestyle.