G   G   D   D
G   G   D   D
G   G   D   D
D   A7  D   D

[Chorus]
D                    G
  Mama said don't go near that river
D                                     A7
  Don't be hanging around old Catfish John
D                          G
  But come the morning I'd always be there
D                               A7          D
Walking in his footsteps in the sweet delta dawn

[Verse 1]
       G                    D
Born a slave in the town of Vicksburg
       G              D
Traded for a chestnut mare
         G               D
He never spoke a word in anger
               A7            D
Though his load  was hard to bare

[Chorus]
D                    G
  Mama said don't go near that river
D                                     A7
  Don't be hanging around old Catfish John
D                          G
  But come the morning I'd always be there
D                               A7          D
Walking in his footsteps in the sweet delta dawn

[Instrumental]
G   G   D   D
G   G   D   D
G   G   D   D
D   A7  D   D

[Verse 2]
        G                D
Catfish John was a river hobo
             G                 D
He lived and died on the river bend
        G              D
Looking back I still remember
           A7          D
I was proud  to be his friend

[Chorus]
D                    G
  Mama said don't go near that river
D                                     A7
  Don't be hanging around old Catfish John
D                          G
  But come the morning I'd always be there
D                               A7          D
Walking in his footsteps in the sweet delta dawn

[Instrumental]
G   G   D   D
G   G   D   D
G   G   D   D
D   A7  D   D

[Verse 3]
       G                D
Let me dream of another morning
      G             D
And a time so long ago
         G               D
When the sweet magnolias blossomed
                     A7              D
And the cotton fields  were white as snow

[Chorus]
D                    G
  Mama said don't go near that river
D                                     A7
  Don't be hanging around old Catfish John
D                          G
  But come the morning I'd always be there
D                               A7          D
Walking in his footsteps in the sweet delta dawn

[Outro]
D                          G
  But come the morning I'd always be there
D                               A7          D
Walking in his footsteps in the sweet delta dawn