Muddy water
View chords used in this chart
G / / / 2 /
D
I was home in Macon, Georgia
D7 G
They kept my Daddy in the Macon jail
C
He said, "Son, if you keep your hands clean, uh huh
G D7 G
You won't hear those bloodhounds on your trail"
Verse 2:
I fell in with bad companions
I robbed a man up in Tennessee
And I got caught way up in Nashville, uh huh now
And they locked me up and threw away the key
[Refrão] (same pattern as above 2 verses):
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
Verse 3:
E7 A E
I asked the jailer, said "When's my time up?"
E7 A
He said "Son, you know we won't forget
D
And if you try and just keep your hands clean, uh huh
A E7 A
Why we may just make a good man of you yet"
Verse 4:
But I didn't wait to get my time in
I broke down, broke out the Nashville jail
I just crossed Atlanta, Georgia, oh now
And I can hear those bloodhounds on my trail
(Chorus; same pattern as above 2 verses)
F7 Bb F
I washed my hands in muddy water
F7 Bb
I washed my hands, but they didn't come clean
Eb
I tried to do like my daddy told me, now
Bb F7 Bb
I must have washed my hands in a muddy stream
(repeat last line twice)
How to play Muddy water
Use the controls above to change the key and text size. Follow the highlighted chords while listening, then practice each section slowly before playing at the original tempo.
What is the starting chord?
The first identified chord is G. You can transpose without leaving the page.
Can I play it on guitar or keyboard?
Yes. The chord progression works on acoustic guitar, electric guitar and keyboard. Adapt the voicings to your instrument and level.