Mama said don't go near that river don't be hanging round ol' Catfish John
Come the mornin' I'd always be there
Walking in his footsteps in the sweet delta dawn
Let me dream of another mornin' and the time so long ago
When the sweet magnolias blossomed cottonfields were white as snow
Catfish John was a river hobo living by the river bend
Thinkin' back I still remember I was proud to be his friend
Mama said don't go near that river
[ steel ]
Born a slave in the town on Vicksburg traded for a chestnut mare
Still he never spoke in anger though his load was hard to bear
Mama said don't go near that river
So let me dream of another mornin' mhm mhm mhm mhm
Cottonfields were white as snow mhm mhm mhm mhm