Text: Don Williams. Catfish Bates.

They call me Catfish Bates
'Cause I can catch a catfish anytime I want to
Even when the moon man tells me they won't bite
They call me Catfish Bates
'Cause I know where that big ole flathead's a hiddin'.
I'm a gonna take him home with me tonight

I am the king of Looseyhatchie
My home is on the river
And them catfish they all know me by my sigh
I keep my nose on the westwind
My eye on the water
And my mind on my business all the time

Well I get me a plug a days worth of tobacco
And a can a big ole redworms

I go down to where the rivers runnin' strong
I throw my hook out on the water
I let it float on down the channel
And I'll have me a big ole flathead 'for too long

Oh when they bury me I want to be somewhere on the river
With a big ole flathead layin' on my stone
And them catfish will all be prayin
They'll be flatheads up in heaven
So my ghost will leave them hatchie cats alone