Mama said, "Don't go near that river   Don't be hanging around Old Catfish John   Come in the morning, I'd always be there   Walking in his footsteps in the Sweet Delta Dawn"      Take me back to another morning   To a time so long ago   When the sweet Magnolia blossomed   Cotton fields as white as snow      Catfish John was a river hobo   Who lived and died by the river's bed   Looking 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 in 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   Lord, her never spoke in anger   Though his load was hard to bear      Mama said, "Don't go near that river   Come in the morning, I'd always be there   Walking in his footsteps in the Sweet Delta Dawn   Walking in his footsteps in the Sweet Delta Dawn"