I Washed My Hands in Muddy Water

I was born in Macon, Georgia

They kept my dad in the Macon jail

Daddy said, "Son, if you keep them hands clean

You won't hear them bloodhounds on your trail"

But I fell in with bad companions

We robbed a man up in Tennessee

The sheriff 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 like daddy told me

But I must have washed my hands in a muddy stream

Asked the jailor (asked the jailor)

When's my time up (when is my time up?)

He said, "Son (he said son)

We won't forget (we won't forget)

And if you try (if you try)

To keep your hands clean (keep your hands clean)

We may make a good man of you yet"

I couldn't wait to do my sentence

I broke out of the Nashville jail

I just crossed the line of Georgia

And I can't hear them bloodhounds on my trail

I washed my hands in muddy water

I washed my hands, but they didn't come clean

Tried to do like daddy told me

But I must have washed my hands in a muddy stream