I Washed My Hands In Muddy Water

I was born in Macon, Georgia

They kept my dad in the Macon jail

Dad said, "Son, if you keep your hands clean

You won't hear them bloodhounds on your trail"

But I fell in with bad companions

We robbed a man 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 like told me

But I must have washed my hands in a muddy stream

Asked the jailer (Asked the jailer)

"When's my time up?" (When's 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 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 like told me

But I must have washed my hands in a muddy stream