(words music by Joe Babcock) I was born in Macon Georgia They kept my daddy over in Macon jail He told me if you keep your hands clean You won't hear them bloodhounds on your trail
Well I fell in with bad companions Robbed a man, oh up in Tennessee They caught me way up in Nashville They locked me up and threw away the key
I washed my hands in muddy water Washed my hands, but they didn't come clean Tried to do what my daddy told me But I must have washed my hands in a muddy stream
Well I asked the judge now when's my time up He said son, oh you know we won't forget If you try just to keep your hands clean We might just make a good man of you yet
Oh I couldn't wait to get my time up I broke out, broke out of Nashville jail I just crossed the state-line of Georgia Well I can hear those bloodhounds on my trail
I washed my hands in muddy water Washed my hands, but they didn't come clean Tried to do what my daddy told me But I must have washed my hands in a muddy stream
