"Catfish John" is a song written by Bob McDill and Allen Reynolds first released on McDill's album Short Stories,[1] and subsequently recorded and released by American country music artist Johnny Russell.
[2] It was released in November 1972 as the fourth single from the album, "Catfish John"/"Chained".
[3] The song is credited with propelling Bob McDill into the front ranks of country songwriters.
Australian country music band The Hawking Brothers released their version in 1973 reaching 32 on the charts.
[7] The song is a story about a former slave, which emphasizes difficulties of the everyday life for Black people at the time, and about the singer who, in boyhood, found him an inspiration and source of Delta culture.