Ginseng Sullivan

Norman Blake

Key of D · Chords: I IV V VII ii iii vi

Verse 1

D
About three miles from the Battele yard
G
From the reverse curve on down
G                    D                     Bm
Not far south of the town depot Sullivan's shack
F#m        A                  D
was found, Back on the higher ground

Verse 2

D                                   G
You could see him every day Walking down the line
G                        D
With his old brown sack across his back
G                 D                        Bm
And his long hair down behind Speaking his worried mind

Chorus

D                                     G
It's a long way to the Delta from the North Georgia hills
G                       D                    G
And a tote sack full of ginseng Won't pay no travelling bills
C                   D                 Em              A
Now, I'm too old to ride the rails or thumb the road alone
D                       G               D
Well I guess I'll never make it back to home
D              G           A     D
My muddy water Mississippi Delta home

Verse 3

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

(Chorus)

Verse 4

D
But next summer, if things turn right
G
The companies will pay high
G                         D
I'll make enough money to pay my bills
G             D
And bid these mountains goodbye
G            D      Bm
Then he said with a sigh..