Bluegrass Songs - Ginseng Sullivan

Ginseng Sullivan

About three miles from the Bateau of York
From the river's curve or down
Not far south of the town des pauls
Sullivan's shack was found
Back on the higher ground
You could see him everyday
Walking down the line
With an old bound shack across his back
And his long hair down behind
Speaking his worried mind

    It's a long way to the delta
    From the Nnorth Georgia hills
    And a tug shack full of ginseng
    Won't pay no travelling bills
    And I'm too old to ride the rail
    Or thumb the road alone
    Well I guess I'll never make it back to home
    My muddy water Mississippi delta home

Now the winter's here and it gets so cold
Damping make me ill
That you can't dig no roots by the mountain side
Cause the ground froze hard and still
You gatta wait at the foot of the hill
But next summer things will pay high
I'll make enough money to pay my bills
And dig there mountain, good-bye
Then he said with a sigh

  * Refrain