Written by Joe Babcock
G D7 I was born in Macon Georgia G They kept my dad in the Macon jail G7 C Dad said Son if you keep your hands clean G D7 G You won't hear them bloodhounds on your trail D7 But I fell in with bad companions G We robbed a man in Tennessee G7 C The sheriff caught me way up in Nashville G D7 G They locked me up and threw away the key D7 I washed my hands in muddy water G I washed my hands but they didn't come clean G7 C I tried to do like Daddy told me G D7 G But I must have washed my hands in a muddy stream D7 I asked the jailor When's my time up G He said son we won't forget G7 C And if you try to keep your hands clean G D7 G We may make a good man of you yet D7 I couldn't wait to do my sentence G I broke out of the Nashville jail G7 C I just crossed the line of Georgia G D7 G And I can hear them bloodhounds on my trail D7 But I fell in with bad companions G We robbed a man in Tennessee G7 C The sheriff caught me way up in Nashville G D7 G They locked me up and threw away the key