CHORUS:
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,
Walking 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,
- [E7] [A]
Though his load was hard to bear.
CHORUS…
Catfish John was a river hobo.
He lived and died on the river bend.
Thinkin' back I still remember,
- [E7] [A]
I was proud to be his friend.
CHORUS
Let me dream of another morning
and a time so long ago;
When the sweet magnolias blossomed
and the cotton fields were white as snow.
CHORUS