Ginseng Sullivan

Lyrics

Not too far from the Battelle yard On a reverse curve on down Not two miles from the town depot Sullivan's shack was found Back on the higher ground You could see him every day Walking on down the line Old brown sack across his back Long hair down behind Speaking his worried mind It's a long way from the Delta to the North Georgia Hills And a tote sack full of ginseng don't pay no traveling bill I'm too old to ride the rails or thumb the road alone So I guess I'll never make it back to home My muddy water Mississippi Delta home Now the winters here, they get too cold The damp, it makes me ill Can't dig no roots on a mountainside With the ground froze hard and still Gotta stay at the foot of the hill But next summer, when things turn right The companies will pay high I'll make enough money to pay my bills And bid this mountain goodbye Then he said with a sigh It's a long way from the Delta to the North Georgia Hills And a tote sack full of ginseng don't pay no traveling bills I'm too old to ride the rails or thumb the road alone So I guess I'll never make it back to home My muddy water Mississippi Delta home