Alison Krauss:  
Catfish John

 
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. 
 
Permission granted to Countrytabs and Cowboylyrics to host. 
 
 
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.