I was born in Macon Georgia They kept my dad in the Macon jail And he said "son if you keep you hands clean You won't hear them bloodhounds on your trail" But I fell in with bad companions We robbed a man in Tennesse And the sheriff caught me Way up in Nashville They locked me up and threw away the key Wash my hands in muddy watter Wash my hands, but they didn't come clean Tried to do what daddy told me But I must've washed my hands in a muddy stream I asked the jailor " when's my time up? " He said " son we won't forget And if you try to keep your hands clean We may make a good man of you yet" I could't wait to do my sentence I broke out of the Nashville jail I just crossed the line of Georgia I can hear them bloodhounds on my trail Wash my hands in muddy watter Wash my hands, but they didn't come clean Tried to do what daddy told me But I must've washed my hands in a muddy stream