Well I was born in american georgia
Left my dad in american jail
He said son if you keep your hands clean
Well you won't hear those bloodhounds on your trail
Well I fell in with a bad companion
Robbed the bank down in tennessee
Well the sheriff brought me way up in nashville
Well they locked me up and threw away the key
Well I washed my hands in the muddy water
I washed my hands but they didn't come clean
Well I tried to do what my daddy told me
But I must have washed my hands in the muddy screen
Well I asked the jailer now when's my time up
He said son we won't forget now
If you try to keep your hands clean
Well we may make a good man of you yet
Well I couldn't wait to do my sentence
When I broke out of that nashville jail
I just crossed the line to the state of georgia lord
And I can hear those bluehounds on my trail
Well I washed my hands in the muddy water
I washed my hands didn't come clean
Well I tried to do what my daddy told me
Well I must have washed my hands in the muddy stream
I said well
Now I must have washed my hands in the muddy stream