Catfish John Chords
by Jerry Garcia
Catfish John by Jerry Garcia is a beginner-friendly guitar song played in the key of A. It uses the chords A, D and E. Use the transpose and diagram tools on this page to change the key, see each shape, or simplify the chords.
CATFISH JOHN: Jerry Garcia
E---9p7----8-9---|------9p7-----12---12--9p7----------------
B-------10-------|----------10---------------10-------------
G----------------|<3x---------------------------------------
d----------------|------------------------------------------
a----------------|------------------------------------------
e----------------|-------------------------------0--2--4----
A D
Mama said don't go near that river
A E
Don't be hanging round old Catfish John
A D
Come the morning I'd always be there
A E A
Walking in his footsteps in the sweet delta dawn
D A
Take me back to another morning
D A
To a time so long ago
D A
Where the sweet magnolia blossomed
A E A
Cotton fields were white as snow
Catfish John was a river hobo
Lived and died by the river's bend
Looking back I still remember
I was proud to be his friend
-Chorus-
Born a slave in the town of Richmond
Traded for a chestnut mare
Lord he never spoke in anger
Though his load was hard to bear
-Chorus-
-Chorus-
Walking in his footsteps in the sweet Delta dawn