Ginseng Sullivan

About three miles from the batelle yard
At the reverse curve on down
Not far south of the town depot
Sullivan's shack was found
Way back on the higher ground.
 
You could see him every day
Walking down the line
An old brown sack across his back
With his long hair down behind
Speaking his worried mind
 
Chorus:
It's a long way to the delta
From the North Georgia hills
A tote sack full of ginseng
Won't pay no travelling bills
I'm too old to ride the rails
Or thumb the road alone
 I guess I'll never make it back to home
My muddy water Mississippi delta home
 
The winters here they get too cold
The damp she makes me ill
Can't dig no roots in the mountain side
When the ground is frozen still
Gotta stay at the foot of the hill
 
But next summer when things turn right
The company will pay high
I'll make enough money to pay my bills
Lord bid these mountains goodbye
Then he said with a sigh
 
Chorus:
It’s a long way to the delta…