Catfish John (鲶鱼约翰) - 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 of 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 in another morning and a time so long ago

When the sweet magnolia blossomed cotton fields as 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'