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