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