Lyrics:

I was born in macon, georgia, met my dad in a macon jail
He said, 'son, if you keep your hands clean
You won't have them bloodhounds on your trail'

I fell in with bad companions, robbed a man in tennessee
Sheriff caught me way up in nashville
And they locked me up and they threw away the key

Refrain:
I washed my hands in muddy water
I washed my hands but they didn't come clean
Tried to do what my daddy told me

But I must have washed my hands in a muddy stream

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
And I can hear those bloodhounds on my trail

Refrain (2 times)