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’.