Jackson was the first to join the Grand Ole Opry before he got a recording contract. He signed to Columbia Records and debuted in 1958 with "Don't Be Angry." The song didn't score in the country music top 40, but it got him recognition.His breakthrough came in the country Top 40 in late 1958, with a song written by a young George Jones, "Life to Go." It peaked at #2 in early 1959 and his follow-up record, "Waterloo," was #1 for 5 weeks and crossed over into the Top 40 Pop charts, where it reached #4. His next #1 came in 1964, with "B.J. The D.J." (about an over-worked country music radio station DJ, who crashes his car in a rainstorm because of bad tires). Jackson was the first to record a live record from the Grand Ole Opry, in 1963 with "Old Showboat." Other classics include "The Carpet On The Floor," "Why I'm Walkin'," "A Wound Time Can't Erase" and "I Washed My Hands in Muddy Water." Jackson also recorded a cover of Lobo's 1971 hit, "Me and You and a Dog Named Boo."
From 1958 to 1971, Jackson had 35 Top 40 Country Hits. Along with Ray Price, Jackson is considered a cornerstone, after Hank Williams and Lefty Frizzell, in the hard-driving honky tonk sound in the late 50's and early 60's.
In 2006, Jackson sued the Grand Ole Opry for $10 million, claiming age discrimination. As a member of the Opry for over fifty years, Jackson believed that management was sidelining him in favor of younger artists. In his court filing, Jackson claimed that Grand Ole Opry general manager, Pete Fisher, stated that he didn't "want any gray hairs on that stage or in the audience, and before I'm done there won't be any." Fisher is also alleged to have told Jackson that he was "too old and too country."
Washed My Hands In Muddy Water
Stonewall Jackson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dad said son if you keep your hands clean
You won't hear them bloodhounds on your trail
But I fell in with bad companions we robbed a man in Tennessee
The sheriff 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 like daddy told me but I must have washed my hands in a muddy stream
And if you try to keep your hands clean we may make a good man of you yet
I couldn't wait to do my sentence I broke out of the Nashville jail
I just crossed the line of Georgia and I can hear them bloodhounds on my trail
I washed my hands...
Stonewall Jackson's song "I Washed My Hands in Muddy Water" portrays the story of a man who was taught to keep his hands clean to avoid the bloodhounds, but falls in with bad companions, and ends up being imprisoned for robbery. The song starts with him reminiscing about his childhood in Macon, Georgia, and his father's advice to keep his hands clean to avoid trouble with law enforcement. However, the man's poor choices and association with the wrong crowd lead him to rob someone in Tennessee, leading to his imprisonment in Nashville.
The man then attempts to follow his father's advice by washing his hands in muddy water to cleanse himself of his past mistakes, but his efforts are futile. He seeks redemption and a fresh start after asking the jailor when his sentence will be up, telling him that he hopes he will become a good man if he keeps his hands clean. Nevertheless, he cannot wait to be released from prison and eventually breaks out, fleeing to Georgia with the sounds of baying bloodhounds at his heels.
The song can be interpreted as a cautionary tale about the consequences of making poor life choices and the inescapable repercussions that follow. It highlights themes of redemption, regret, and the search for a fresh start after making mistakes. The imagery of "washing one's hands in muddy water" also speaks to the idea of trying to cleanse oneself of past mistakes, but realizing that these mistakes cannot be erased so easily.
Line by Line Meaning
I was born in Macon Georgia they kept my dad in the Macon jail
I was born in Macon, Georgia. Unfortunately, my dad was in jail in Macon at the time.
Dad said son if you keep your hands clean
You won't hear them bloodhounds on your trail
My dad advised me that if I stay out of trouble, I won't have to worry about the authorities tracking me down.
But I fell in with bad companions we robbed a man in Tennessee
The sheriff caught me way up in Nashville they locked me up and threw away the key
Despite my father's warning, I got involved with some unsavory individuals, and we committed a robbery in Tennessee. Unfortunately, the law eventually caught up with me in Nashville, and they threw me in jail with no chance of escape.
I washed my hands in muddy water washed my hands but they didn't come clean
Tried to do like daddy told me but I must have washed my hands in a muddy stream
Even though I tried to follow my father's advice by cleaning up my act, I couldn't get rid of the guilt and shame I felt about my past actions. It was as if I was trying to cleanse myself in dirty water.
I asked the jailor when's my time up he said son we won't forget
And if you try to keep your hands clean we may make a good man of you yet
I tried to find out when I would be released from jail, but the jailor warned me that they weren't going to forget about me anytime soon. He also encouraged me to reform myself so that I could become a better person.
I couldn't wait to do my sentence I broke out of the Nashville jail
I just crossed the line of Georgia and I can hear them bloodhounds on my trail
I washed my hands...
Instead of serving my time and focusing on improving myself, I made a rash decision to try and escape from jail. Now, I'm on the run from the law and can hear the authorities chasing after me like bloodhounds. Despite everything, I can't seem to shake off the feeling of shame and regret that I carry with me.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Joe T. Babcock
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
troynov1965
Stonewall is one of the most underrated country singers there is . He nails this tune.
Jacob Melton
Love your profile picture man, dock is one of the all time greats
J.C. Heinrich
Yes he is and the ones that call
themselfs country don't know what country music is today
hangman99
i got a 13 yo boy that lives on this music. im glad i showed it to him! stonewall is his favorite!
Greg Bennett
Couldn’t agree more brother
T
Absolutely one of my favorite all time country songs 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
laserbeam 002
I have not heard this in years. RIP Stonewall. You were one of the greats.
electrojones
This song is so tight. The very beginning really rewards listening on headphones. Love this guy.
karlsonkab51
back in the times when stereo had fully panned right and left parts with vocals centered - maybe the brain
processes the good examples of that perhaps better on headphones than a spread and claustrophobic mix across the panoramic stage (?) Its been out of favor for a long time. I also like real 3D movies of good content (not much from Hollywood in that last phase with poor themes and conversions) -- sad 3D TVs were nixed.
Maddie Holland
When I was a baby and couldn't sleep, this is the song my dad would sing to me while we swung on the front porch ❤️