D G
Mama said don't go near that river
D A
Don't be hanging around old Catfish John
D G
But come the morning I'd always be there
D A D
Walking in his footsteps in the sweet delta dawn
[Verse 1]
G D
Born a slave in the town of Vicksburg
G D
Traded for a chestnut mare
G D
He never spoke a word in anger
A D
Though his load was hard to bare
[Chorus]
D G
Mama said don't go near that river
D A
Don't be hanging around old Catfish John
D G
But come the morning I'd always be there
D A D
Walking in his footsteps in the sweet delta dawn
[Verse 2]
G D
Catfish John was a river hobo
G D
He lived and died on the river bend
G D
Looking back I still remember
A D
I was proud to be his friend
[Chorus]
D G
Mama said don't go near that river
D A
Don't be hanging around old Catfish John
D G
But come the morning I'd always be there
D A D
Walking in his footsteps in the sweet delta dawn
[Verse 3]
G D
Let me dream of another morning
G D
And a time so long ago
G D
When the sweet magnolias blossomed
A D
And the cotton fields were white as snow
[Chorus]
D G
Mama said don't go near that river
D A
Don't be hanging around old Catfish John
D G
But come the morning I'd always be there
D A D
Walking in his footsteps in the sweet delta dawn
[Outro]
D G
But come the morning I'd always be there
D A7 D
Walking in his footsteps in the sweet delta dawn