Written by: Norman Blake
D
About three miles from the Batelle yard
G
From the reverse curve on down
D
Not far south of the town depot
G Bm
Sullivan's shack was found
A D
Back on the higher ground.
D
You could see him every day
G
Just walking down the line
D
With his old brown sack across his back
G Bm
And his long hair down behind
A D
Speaking his worried mind.
D
cho: It's a long way to the delta
G
From the North Georgia hills
D
A tote sack full of ginseng
G G7
Won't pay no travelling bills
C D
Now, I'm too old to ride the rails
Em A
Or thumb the road alone
D G D
So I guess I'll never make it back to home
D G A D
My muddy water Mississippi delta home.
D
The winters here, they get too cold
G
The damp it makes me ill
D
Can't dig no roots in the mountain side
G Bm
With the ground froze hard and still
A D
Gotta stay at the foot of the hill.
D
But next summer, things turn right
G
The companies will pay high
D
I'll make enough money to pay my bills
G Bm
Bid these mountains goodbye
A D
Then he said with a sigh:
[chorus]
