Proud Mary" is a song written by John Fogerty and recorded by Creedence Clearwater Revival (in which Fogerty played lead guitar and sang lead vocals) on the 1969 album Bayou Country.The phrase "Proud Mary" reminded John Fogerty of a domestic washerwoman, which is what he started writing the song about. When he wrote the music, the first few chords reminded him of a paddle-wheel going around, and he thought of the Mississippi River. Instead of "Proud Mary" being a clean-up lady, "she" became a boat.Proud Mary was Released as a single in January 1969, it became CCR's first top-ten hit on the U.S. Pop charts. Bob Dylan said this song was his favorite single of 1969. It was the first of five singles that the band released that would peak on the charts, a record for most number-two singles for a group without ever having a number-one song