The Devil Went Down To Georgia

Willie Jones was a man I met when I lived in Baltimore

I was guard and he was doing time

In the three long years he stayed there

I got to know him well

Willie Jones was a friend of mine

He used to say

Buddy you know where I'm going when they let me outta here

Alabama could be heaven if the Lord was there

And he talked about the Southland though he'd drifted from it's shores

I never seen a man who loved it more

He talked about the whippoorwills and the Alabama night

Honeysuckle vine and sugar canes

Swimmin' holes and fishin poles and early morning frost

Sleeping under a tin roof when it rains

He talked about a country road and a cabin in the pines

And a girl with wavy long chestnut brown hair

Talked about the beauty of his blue ridge mountain home

Dern near made me think that I was there

He used to say

Buddy you know where I'm going when they let me outta here

Alabama could be heaven if the Lord was there

But when a man ain't got no freedom

Time sure passes slow

Been almost a year now since that hot night in July

Willie hit the guard and jumped the fence

I had my rifle ready but I couldn't let it fly

I shot over his head and we ain't seen him since

Then last week the postman brought a letter to my door

Marked no return address and no reply

It just said nobody North of Birmingham's going to see this boy again

But if you're ever down our way won't you please drop by

He used to say

Buddy you know where I'm going when they let me outta here

Alabama could be heaven if the Lord was there

And he talked about the Southland

Though he'd drifted from it's shores

I never seen a man who loved it more