Well I was born
in Macon Georgia
They kept my dad
in the Macon jail
And he said Son if you
keep your hands clean
Well you won't hear them
bloodhounds on your trail
But I fell in
with bad companions
we robbed a man
down in Tennessee
The sheriff caught me
way up in Nashville
Well they locked me up
and threw away the key
Well I washed my hands
in muddy water
I washed my hands
but they didn't come clean
Well I tried to do
what my daddy told me
But I must have washed
my hands in a muddy stream
Well I asked the jailer
now when's my time up
He said Son
we won't forget
Now if you try
to keep your hands clean
Well we may make
a good man of you yet
Well I couldn't wait
to do my sentence
I broke out of the Nashville jail
I just crossed the line
to the state of Georgia
And I can hear them
bloodhounds on my trail
Well I washed my hands
in muddy water
I washed my hands
but they didn't come clean
Well I tried to do
what my daddy told me
Well I must have washed
my hands in a muddy stream
I said well now
I must have washed
my hands in a muddy stream