intro :

A A
E | – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – | – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – |
B | – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – | – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – |
G | – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – | – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – |
D | – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – | – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – |
A | – – – – – – – 3 – 4~ – – 3p2 – 0 – – – | – – – – – – 3 – 4~ – – – 3p2 – 0 – – – |
E | – – 5 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 2 – – | – 5 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 2 – – | ( repeat )

chorus :

A D
mama said don’t go near that river
A E
don’t be hanging around old catfish john
A D
but come the morning i’d always be there
A E A
walking in his footsteps in the sweet delta dawn

verse 1 :

D A
take me back , to another moment
D A
to a time , so long ago
D A
when the sweet , magnolias blossomed
A E A
the cotton fields , were white as snow

verse 2 :

D A
catfish john was a river hobo
D A
he lived and died , by the rivers bend
D A
looking back , i still remember
A E A
i was proud , to be his friend

solo :

( verse chords )

verse 3 :

D A
born a slave , in the town of vicksburg
D A
traded for , a chestnut mare
D A
lord he never , spoke in anger
A E A
though his load , was hard to bare

chorus :

A D
mama said don’t go near that river
A E
don’t be hanging around old catfish john
A D
but come the morning i’d always be there
A E A
walking in his footsteps in the sweet delta dawn
A E A
walking in his footsteps in the sweet delta dawn