Mama said don't go near that river
Don't be hanging round old Catfish John
Come the morning I'd always be there
Walking in his footsteps in the sweet delta dawn
Let me dream of another morning
And a time so long ago
When the sweet magnolia blossomed
Cotton fields were white as snow
Catfish John was a river hobo
Living by the river bend
Thinking back I still remember
I was proud to be his friend
Mama said don't go near that river
Don't be hanging round old Catfish John
Don't be hanging round 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 New York

In the town of Vicksburg
Traded for a chestnut mare
But still he never spoke in anger
Though his load was hard to bear
Mama said don't go near that river
Don't be hanging round old Catfish John
Come the morning I'd always be there
Walking in his footsteps in the sweet delta dawn
Mama said don't go near that river
Don't be hanging round old Catfish John
Come the morning I'd always be there