Mama said don't go near that river
Don't be hanging around old Catfish John
Come the morning I'd always be there
Walking in his footsteps in the sweet Delta dawn
Born a slave in the town of Vicksburg traded for a chestnut mare
Lord he never spoke in anger though his load was hard to bear
Mama said don't go near that river
Don't be hanging around old Catfish John
Come the morning I'd always be there
Walking in his footsteps in the sweet Delta dawn
Catfish John was a river hobo who lived and died by the river bed
Thinking back I still remember I was proud to be his friend
Mama said don't go near that river
Don't be hanging around old Catfish John
Come the morning I'd always be there
Walking in his footsteps in the sweet Delta dawn
Let me dream in another morning to a time so long ago
When the sweet magnolia blossomed cotton fields as white as snow
Mama said don't go near that river
Don't be hanging around old Catfish John
Come the morning I'd always be there
Walking in his footsteps in the sweet Delta dawn
Come the morning I'd always be there
Walking in his footsteps in the sweet Delta dawn
