Mama said, "Don′t go near that river,

Don't be hangin′ around old Catfish John"

But come the morning, I'd always be thereWalkin' 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