Catfish John

Ricky Skaggs

Intro:         C – G – D – G 

 

<CHORUS>

          G                               C

Mama said don't go near that river

G                                                         D

Don't be hangin’ ‘round old Catfish John

G                                     C

Come the morning, I'd always be there

G                                                 D                G

Walking in his footsteps in the sweet delta dawn

 

             C                           G                         C                  G

Let me dream of another morning; And the time so long ago

                 C                           G                                  D                   G

When the sweet magnolias blossom; Cotton fields were white as snow

              C                         G                         C                             G

Catfish John was a river hobo; Lived and died where the river bends

                   C                     G                             D             G

Searching back, I still remember; I was proud to be his friend

 

<CHORUS>

 

<BREAK> CHORUS

 

             C                               G                           C                     G

Born a slave in the town of Vicksburg; Traded for a chestnut mare

              C                      G                                  D                  G

Still he never spoke in anger; Though his load was hard to bear