Mm, hmmm...
In south Georgia there's a river called the Ohoopee River
And my people been living down there, making love and war and babies
And liquor for about 285 or 90 years
And in the meantime, they've corrupted Ohoopee to become, uh, the hoopee
Mm, hmm
Mm, hmm...
This low rent land has turned to sand
An' I done stood by it all I can, I'm leavin'
I'm leavin'
Papa he said "Good luck son, try to remember there's always one you can turn to...
When you need to"
And dry your eyes cause you knew one day he'd make his own way...
Quick as he can, Lord
From the ohoopee river bottomland... mm, hmm
The farm house leanin' and the barn is rottin'
And my back is bent from choppin' cotton in Macon
I'm achin'
Box and pine and croppin tobacco,
Wore out mule and a no count tractor that just quit now
This is it now
This land has brought me pain and sorrow
The trailway's coming through tomorrow, I'm leavin' (leavin)
Man, as soon as I can, Lord (soon as I can)
From the Ohoopee River Bottomland (Ohoopee River bottomland)
Two years gone, I been on my own,
My belly told me money's gone in Reno, in Reno
The bright, rich town with the city sound,
And everybody tellin' me to lay your money down, boy
Get your bet down, boy
Them that win is them that's betting is them that's got, is them that's getting, I'm leaving
For home, as soon as I can, Lord (as soon as I can)
Back toward the Ohoopee River bottomland (Ohoopee River Bottomland)
Mmmmm, hmmm, hmmm
A hot dry highway, a Utah by-way a semi' stopped and he's headin my way, thank ya
Oh, thank ya
Driver said "Son, I just had to ask you
Did you find yourself a greener pasture?" No, sir...
I said "No, sir"
Met a few people and this friend of mine, mostly Utah has been unkind
Salt Lake City can do without me, there's some folks in Georgia that care a little bout me, I'm Leavin (I'm leavin')
For home, as soon as I can, Lord (soon as I can)
To the Ohoopee River bottomland (Ohooppee River bottomland)
(Ohoopee River Bottomland)
(Ohoopee River Bottomland)