diff --git a/go/vt/sqlparser/rewriter_api.go b/go/vt/sqlparser/rewriter_api.go
index 260089dd202..ec448162f27 100644
--- a/go/vt/sqlparser/rewriter_api.go
+++ b/go/vt/sqlparser/rewriter_api.go
@@ -34,6 +34,10 @@ package sqlparser
 // Only fields that refer to AST nodes are considered children;
 // i.e., fields of basic types (strings, []byte, etc.) are ignored.
 func Rewrite(node SQLNode, pre, post ApplyFunc) (result SQLNode) {
+	return rewriteNode(node, pre, post, false)
+}
+
+func rewriteNode(node SQLNode, pre ApplyFunc, post ApplyFunc, collectPaths bool) SQLNode {
 	parent := &RootNode{node}
 
 	// this is the root-replacer, used when the user replaces the root of the ast
@@ -42,8 +46,9 @@ func Rewrite(node SQLNode, pre, post ApplyFunc) (result SQLNode) {
 	}
 
 	a := &application{
-		pre:  pre,
-		post: post,
+		pre:          pre,
+		post:         post,
+		collectPaths: collectPaths,
 	}
 
 	a.rewriteSQLNode(parent, node, replacer)
@@ -51,6 +56,10 @@ func Rewrite(node SQLNode, pre, post ApplyFunc) (result SQLNode) {
 	return parent.SQLNode
 }
 
+func RewriteWithPath(node SQLNode, pre, post ApplyFunc) (result SQLNode) {
+	return rewriteNode(node, pre, post, true)
+}
+
 // SafeRewrite does not allow replacing nodes on the down walk of the tree walking
 // Long term this is the only Rewrite functionality we want
 func SafeRewrite(
@@ -139,6 +148,12 @@ func (c *Cursor) ReplaceAndRevisit(newNode SQLNode) {
 	c.revisit = true
 }
 
+// CurrentPath returns the current path that got us to the current location in the AST
+// Only works if the AST walk was configured to collect path as walking
+func (c *Cursor) CurrentPath() ASTPath {
+	return c.current
+}
+
 type replacerFunc func(newNode, parent SQLNode)
 
 // application carries all the shared data so we can pass it around cheaply.
diff --git a/go/vt/sqlparser/rewriter_test.go b/go/vt/sqlparser/rewriter_test.go
index 628d6fbd0a4..89dfc25cac9 100644
--- a/go/vt/sqlparser/rewriter_test.go
+++ b/go/vt/sqlparser/rewriter_test.go
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ limitations under the License.
 package sqlparser
 
 import (
+	"fmt"
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
@@ -65,6 +66,20 @@ func TestReplaceWorksInLaterCalls(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(t, 2, count)
 }
 
+func TestFindColNames(t *testing.T) {
+	// this is the tpch query #1
+	q := "select l_returnflag, l_linestatus, sum(l_quantity) as sum_qty, sum(l_extendedprice) as sum_base_price, sum(l_extendedprice * (1 - l_discount)) as sum_disc_price, sum(l_extendedprice * (1 - l_discount) * (1 + l_tax)) as sum_charge, avg(l_quantity) as avg_qty, avg(l_extendedprice) as avg_price, avg(l_discount) as avg_disc, count(*) as count_order from lineitem where l_shipdate <= '1998-12-01' - interval '108' day group by l_returnflag, l_linestatus order by l_returnflag, l_linestatus"
+	ast, err := NewTestParser().Parse(q)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	RewriteWithPath(ast, nil, func(cursor *Cursor) bool {
+		if _, isColName := cursor.Node().(*ColName); isColName {
+			// TODO: actually assert something here
+			fmt.Println(cursor.CurrentPath().DebugString())
+		}
+		return true
+	})
+}
+
 func TestReplaceAndRevisitWorksInLaterCalls(t *testing.T) {
 	q := "select * from tbl1"
 	parser := NewTestParser()