Mama said, "Don't go near that river,
Don't be hangin' around old Catfish John"
But come the morning, I'd always be there
Walkin' in his footsteps in the sweet delta dawn
Born a slave in the town of Vicksburg
Traded for a chestnut mare
he never spoke a word in anger
though his load was hard to bear
Mama said, "Don't go near that river,
Don't be hangin' around old Catfish John"
But come the morning, I'd always be there
Walkin' in his footsteps in the sweet delta dawn
Catfish John was a river hobo
he lived and died on the riverbend
thinking back, I still rememebr
I was proud to be his friend
Mama said, "Don't go near that river,
Don't be hangin' around old Catfish John"
But come the morning, I'd always be there
Walkin' in his footsteps in the sweet delta dawn
Let me dream or another morning
and a time so long ago
when the sweet magnolias blossom
and the cotton fields were white as snow
Mama said, "Don't go near that river,
Don't be hangin' around old Catfish John"
But come the morning, I'd always be there
Walkin' in his footsteps in the sweet delta dawn
But come the morning, I'd always be there
Walkin' in his footsteps in the sweet delta dawn
