Please note, that some chords start in the middle of words. This
is shown by the chord being placed within a word at the point where
the chord begins, not at the start.

Slightly strange chord pattern. If you're after the normal A, D & E
pattern that's used a lot in these songs, you'll need a capo on fret
5 and go from A->E, D->A, G->D.

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Intro: G | D | G | D | G | D | A | D

D                  G
Mama said don't go near that river
D                                   A
Don't be hangin' around old catfish John
D                        G
But come the morning I'd always be there
D                           A           D
Walking in his footsteps in sweet delta dawn.

       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
             A              D
Though his load was hard to bear.

D                  G
Mama said don't go near that river
D                                   A
Don't be hangin' around old catfish John
D                        G
But come the morning I'd always be there
D                           A           D
Walking in his footsteps in sweet delta dawn.

Guitar & fiddle solos: G | D | G | D | G | D | A | D

D       G                D
Catfish John was a river hobo
             G                 D
He lived and died on the river bend
         G              D
Thinkin' back I still remember
         A            D
I was proud to be his friend.

D                  G
Mama said don't go near that river
D                                   A
Don't be hangin' around old catfish John
D                        G
But come the morning I'd always be there
D                           A           D
Walking in his footsteps in sweet delta dawn.

Banjo and mandolin solos: G | D | G | D | G | D | A | D

D      G                D
Let me dream of another morning
      G             D
And a time so long ago
         G               D
When the sweet magnolias blossomed
                  A                 D
And the cotton fields were white as snow.

D                  G
Mama said don't go near that river
D                                   A
Don't be hangin' around old catfish John
D                        G
But come the morning I'd always be there
D                           A           D
Walking in his footsteps in sweet delta dawn.

D                    G
Come the morning I'd always be there
D                           A           D
Walking in his footsteps in sweet delta dawn.