Karaoké Catfish John Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

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

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 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 on 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 of another morning and a time so long ago

When the sweet magnolia blossomed and the cotton fields were 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