Talk about troubles, I tell you I got 'em shovellin' sand on the Mississipi bottom

yeah yeah yeah, yeah yeah yeah

I killed me a man in Shelby County, they turned me in for the government bounty

yeah yeah yeah, yeah yeah yeah



Tennessee owns my soul, that little Georgia gal just wouldn't listen

She tried to run away with Stoney Lee I caught him and I put him six feet under

I wonder if he misses me? Tennessee owns my soul



Rottin' in a cell I try to forget her, wishin' like hell I'd never ever met her

yeah yeah yeah, yeah yeah yeah

Gotta get away, gotta see my baby, gotta leave tonight, she's drivin' me crazy

yeah yeah yeah, yeah yeah yeah



Tennessee owns my soul, if I can get as far as Lookout Mountain

Highway twenty four will carry me to the girl I killed another man for

Even then I know I won't be free, Tennessee owns my soul

I make it to the top of the twenty foot wall, the guard - I'm hit, and I think I'm gonna fall

yeah yeah yeah, yeah yeah yeah



Laying on a broken back and cryin', everything's goin' black and I'm dyin'

yeah yeah yeah, yeah yeah yeah Tennessee owns my soul, Tennessee owns my soul