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