作曲 : joe babcock They kept my daddy over in Macon jail He told me, "If you keep your hands clean You won't hear them bloodhounds on your trail" Well I fell in with bad companions Robbed a man, oh, up in Tennessee They caught me way up in Nashville They locked me up and threw away the key I washed my hands in muddy water Washed my hands, oh, but they didn't come clean Tried to do like my daddy told me But I must have washed my hands in a muddy stream Well I asked the judge, "Now, when's my time up?" He said son, "Oh, you know we won't forget If you learn just to keep your mouth shut We might just make a good man of you yet" Oh, I couldn't wait to get my time up I broke out, broke out of Nashville jail I just crossed the state-line of Georgia Well I can hear those bloodhounds on my trail I washed my hands in muddy water Washed my hands, oh, but they didn't come clean Tried to do like my daddy told me But I must have washed my hands in a muddy stream I washed my hands in muddy water Washed my hands, oh, but they didn't come clean Tried to do like my daddy told me But I must have washed my hands in a muddy stream I washed my hands in muddy water Washed my hands, oh, but they didn't come clean Tried to do like my daddy told me But I must have washed my hands in a muddy stream I washed my hands in muddy water Washed my hands, oh, but they didn't come clean Tried to do like my daddy told me But I must have washe