I was born in Macon, Georgia
Met my dad in the Macon jail
if you keep your hands clean
bloodhounds on your trail
I fell in with bad companions
Robbed a man in Tennessee
and they threw away the key
Washed my hands in muddy water
Try to do what my daddy told me
I asked the jailer when my time's up
He said, son, we won't forget
If you try to keep your hands clean
We may make a good man of you yet
I couldn't wait to do my sentence
I broke out of the Nashville jail
I just crossed the line of Georgia
I washed my hands in the muddy water
I washed my hands but they
Try to do what my daddy told me
But I must have washed my hands
Washed my hands in muddy water
Try to do what my daddy told me
