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I Washed My Hands in Muddy Water
Words & Music:
Joe BabcockI was born in Macon Georgia
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, but they didn't come clean
Tried to do what 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 try just to keep your hands clean
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, but they didn't come clean
Tried to do what my daddy told me
But I must have washed my hands in a muddy stream Recorded:
1970/06/07, first released on
Elvis CountryReactions
Hear that piano from David Briggs. He makes Jerry Lee sounds tame. I really like the long version too. The author Joe Babcock did overdub vocals on one track, but not on his own song.
This is easily one of my most favorite 1970's Elvis songs that Elvis only recorded in the studio. It's a true masterpiece of a record for sure and it should definitely be much better known than it actually is. I've never skipped it.
One of the many gems to appear on the "Elvis Country" LP. 5 stars for the song and 5 stars for the LP.
I like the editied version on the Elvis Country LP, but not the unedited version heard on other releases which goes on and on to nowhere.
What a frenetic, driving, high charged, pulsating performance from Elvis, and the boys lasting from the very first note to the very end - absolutely fanrtastic.
Another gem by "The King".
Great performance and love the story line, would be fantastic title song for an exciting Western movie. Elvis was superb during those June 70 recordings, producing two fantastic albums TTWII and Country. Four stars for this song.
ah oh yes, another triumph for Elvis, great recording from a great album. pity Elvis did not return to the studio's and record more for a volume 2. He never lost his roots of singing c&w in some shape or form.
Good song fron a good LP,apart from the sample song each time "I Was Born A thousand Years Ago" RCA should re-release the album without the sample song after each track.
The very first time I heard this song was the funny version on the rehearsal from TTWII. After listening to the studio version I went straight back to the rehearsal one. Even if Elvis fools around more than anything with that one I prefer how his TCB band sounds like with the smooth version they play there than the Studio B's...
great song.elvis must have had a lot of fun recording this song.
Man do I LOVE this song! It's a dramatic and very cinematic song and performance by Elvis. And this thing just builds and builds and when he gets to the line "I broke out, broke out of Nashville jail" it's exhilarating. I can picture a whole movie in my mind with this track....a combination of Jailhouse Rock and Charro (at least in my head). A great song and performance!
superb!-Elvis Country released in 1971 was the only "concept album" RCA done concerning thier artist..this song sounds much better on the recent 2 cd deluxe cd by FDT/RCA,.a overdubb version with horns!!-makes this great song even sound better than it did in 1971. 10 out of 10.
This is a wonderful performance. Elvis is in great voice, and unlike other performances from the seventies, it´s really exciting.
A powerful country rock tune that fits in perfection is Elvis Best Album, Elvis Country! It proves that our boy was, when he wanted, a true Rocker!
yeah, one of these last country rockers done by the man behind the music
wonderful album high above average, putting to shame these men who sent him back to truck drivin' when he appeared at the GOO
What a rockin' tune!!!Elvis country what an album!!!
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