I was born in Macon Georgia
They kept my daddy in the Macon jail
He said son keep your hands clean 
And you won't hear those bloodhounds on your trail
Well I fell in with bad companion
We robbed a man in Tennessee
When I got caught up in Nashville 
Yeah they locked me up and threw away the key
I washed my hands in muddy water
Washed my hands but they didn't come clean
I tried to do like my daddy told me now
I must have washed my hands in a muddy stream
I asked the jailer said 
When is my time up
He said son you know we won't forget
And if you try to keep your hands clean 
And we may make a good man of you yet
I couldn't wait to get my time out
I broke out the Nashville jail
I just crossed Atlanta Georgia 
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 my daddy told me now
I must have washed my hands in a muddy stream