Well, the judge he found me guilty of wrong doing
And he sentenced me to hang in Mid-July
He looked down at me and said you're life's a ruin
If I were you I'd break right down and cry

Nobody seems to care that I ain't guilty
Lord, I never did the things they said I've done
But I guess they're gonna have to hang somebody
And it's looking like I'm gonna be the one

So send my body home on a freight train
Don't worry, no, that I don't go first class
Send my body home on a freight train
So everyone can see me when I pass
Don't worry, no, about no fancy funeral
It don't matter how they lay me down
You see they bury me out by mama's apple tree
And send my body back to my home town

Well, my mama was a damn hard working woman
She tried to raise us kids without a pa
Last thing that she said she was on her dying bed
Was "Son, don't get in trouble with the law"

Whenever my time comes to meet my Maker
I'm gonna try to do my very best
I'm gonna try to stand and take it like a man
When they ask if I have one request 

I'll guess they sent my body home on a freight train
Don't worry, no, that I don't go first class
Send my body home on a freight train
So everyone can see me when I pass
Don't worry, no, about no fancy funeral
'Cause it don't matter how they lay me down
You see they bury me out by mama's apple tree
And send my body back to my home town

Yeah, you see they bury me out by mama's apple tree
And send my body back to my home town