Momma said don't go near that river

Don't be hangin' 'round old Catfish John

Come the mornin' I'd always be there

Walkin' in his footsteps in the sweet delta dawn



Let me dream of another mor-ornin'

And a ti-ime so long ago

When the sweet magnolia blossom

Cotton fields were white as snow



Catfish John was a river hobo

Livin' by the river bed

Thinkin' back, I still remember

I was proud to be his friend



Momma said don't go near that river

Don't be hangin' 'round old Catfish John

Come the mornin' 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

But still he never spo-oke in anger

Though his load was hard to bear



Momma said don't go near that river

Don't be hangin' 'round old Catfish John

Come the mornin' I'd always be there

Walkin' in his footsteps in the sweet delta dawn



Momma said don't go near that river

Don't be hangin' 'round old Catfish John

Come the mornin' I'd always be there [fade]