Well the judge, he found me guilty of wrong-doing

And he sentenced me to hang in mid-July

He looked down at me and said,

"Your life's a ruined.

If I were you, I'd break right down and cry."



Well nobody care that I ain't guilty

Lord, I never did the things they said I've done

But I guess there gonna have to hang somebody

And it's looking like I'm gonna be the one



(chorus)

So send my body home on a freight train

And don't worry none that I don't go first class

Send my body home on a freight train

So everyone can see me when I pass

And don't worry none about no fancy funeral

'Cause it don't matter how they lay me down

Just see they bury me out by Mama's apple tree

And send my body back to my home town



Well my mama was a damn hard workin' woman

And she try to raise us kids without a pa

Last thing that she said, she was on her dying bed, was

"Son don't get in trouble with the law."

Whenever my times comes to meet my maker

I'm gonna try to do my very best

I'm gonna try to stand and take it like a man

And when they ask if I have one request

I'll just say

(repeat chorus)

Yeah, just see they bury me out by Mama's apple tree

And send my body back to my home town