I was home In Macon, Georgia They kept my daddy In the Macon jail They said, son If you keep your hands clean, aha You won't here those bloodhounds on your trail I fell in With bad companions I robbed the mail Up in Tennessee And I got caught Way up in Nashville, aha, now Well, they locked me up and they Threw away the key I washed my hands In muddy water I washed my hands But they didn't come clean I tried to do Like may daddy told me now I must have washed my hands in a muddy stream I asked the jailer I said, when's my time up He said, son You know we won't forget And if you try Just to keep your hands clean, aha Why we may just make a good man of you yet But I couldn't wait To get my time in I broke out, woah Of the Nashville jail I just crossed Atlanta, Georgia, oh oh now And I can hear those bloodhounds on my trail I washed my hands In muddy water I washed my hands But they didn't come clean I tried to do Like may daddy told me now But I must have washed my hands in a muddy stream I washed my hands In muddy water I washed my hands But they didn't come clean I tried to do Like may daddy told me now But I must have washed my hands in a muddy stream Oh, Lord, I must have washed my hands in a muddy stream I guess I must have washed my hands in a muddy stream