Ginseng Sullivan
(Norman Blake)

About three miles from the batelle yard
The river curves on down
Not far south of the town depot
Sullivan's shack was found
Up on the higher ground.

You could see him every day
Walking down the line
With his old brown sack across his back
Long hair down behind
Speaking his worried mind.

cho: It's a long way from the delta
     To the North Georgia hills
     And a tote sack full of ginseng
     Won't pay my travelling bills
     And I'm too old to ride the rails
     Or bum the road alone
     So I guess I'll never make it back to home
     My muddy water Mississippi delta home.

Well. the winter's here, they get too cold
The damp it makes me ill
Can't dig no roots in the mountain side
With the ground froze hard and still
Gotta stay at the foot of the hill.

But next summer, things turn right [bad word] will pay high
I'll make enough money to pay my bills
Bid these mountains goodbye
Then he said with a sigh:

BJS