Lyrics:

I was born in Macon, Georgia
They kept my dad in the Macon jail
They told me, 'If you keep your hands clean
You won't hear the bloodhounds on your trail'
Well, I fell in with bad companions
I robbed a man in Tennessee
They caught me way up in Nashville
They locked me up and threw away the key
Washed my hands in muddy water
Washed my hands, but they didn't come clean
Tried to do like my daddy told me
But I must've washed my hands in a muddy stream

I couldn't wait to get my time done
So I broke out of the Nashville jail
And I just crossed the state line of Georgia
And I can hear them bloodhounds on my trail
Washed my hands in muddy water
Washed my hands, but they didn't come clean
I tried to do like my daddy told me
But I must've washed my hands in a muddy stream
Yes, I must've washed my hands in a muddy stream