I Washed My Hands in Muddy Water

[Verse 1]
I was born in Macon, Georgia
They kept my dad in the Macon jail
Dad said, "Son, if you keep your hands clean
You won't hear them bloodhounds on your trail"

[Verse 2]
But I fell in with bad companions
We robbed a man in Tennessee
The sheriff caught me way up in Nashville
They locked me up and threw away the key

[Chorus]
I washed my hands in muddy water
Washed my hands, but they didn't come clean
Tried to do like daddy like told me
But I must have washed my hands in a muddy stream

[Verse 3]
Asked the jailer (asked the jailer)
"When's my time up?" (when's my time up?)
He said, "Son, (he said, son)
We won't forget (we won't forget)
And if you try (if you try)
To keep your hands clean (keep your hands clean)
We may make a good man of you yet"

[Verse 4]
I couldn't wait to do my sentence
I broke out of the Nashville jail
I just crossed the line of Georgia
And I can hear them bloodhounds on my trail

[Chorus]
I washed my hands in muddy water
I washed my hands, but they didn't come clean
Tried to do like daddy like told me
But I must have washed my hands in a muddy stream