Polk Salad Annie

"Polk Salad Annie" is a 1968 song written and performed by Tony Joe White.

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Elvis Presley performed it later, in the 70's, but I like Tony Joe White's version better. :-)

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Some of you all never been down south too much
I'm gonna tell you a little bit about this
So you'll understand where I'm talking about

Down there we have a plant
That grows out in the woods and the fields
And it looks something like a turnip green
Everybody calls it polk salad, polk salad

Used to know a girl that lived down there and
She'd go out in the evenings to pick a mess of it
Carry it home and cook it for supper
'Cause that's about all they had to eat, they did all right

Down in Louisiana
Where the alligators grow so mean
There lived a girl that I swear to the world
Made the alligators look tame

Polk salad Annie, polk salad Annie
Everybody said it was a shame
'Cause her mama was working on the chain gang
A mean, vicious woman

Everyday 'fore supper time
She'd go down by the truck patch
And pick her a mess of polk salad
And carry it home in a tote sack

Polk salad Annie the 'gators got you granny
Everybody said it was a shame
'Cause the mama was working on the chain gang
A wretched, spiteful, straight razor totin' woman
Lord have mercy, pick a mess of it

Her daddy was a lazy and no count
Claimed he had a bad back
All her brothers were fit for
Was stealing watermelons out of my truck

That's polk salad Annie the 'gators got your granny
Everybody said it was a shame
'Cause her mama was working on the chain gang

Sock a little polk salad to him
You know I need a meal mention
Come on good girl
Gotta help me