Willie Jones

Willie Jones - Bobby Bare

Willie Jones was a man I met

When I lived in Baltimore

I was a 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 goin' when they let me out of here

Alabama could be heaven if the Lord was there

And he talked about the southland

Though he'd drifted from its shore

I never seen a man who loved it more

He talked about the whippoorwills in the Alabama night

Honeysuckle vine

And sugar cane

Swimming holes

And fishing poles

And early morning frost

And sleeping under a tin roof when it rained

He talked about a country road

And a cabin in the pines

And a girl with wavy long chestnut brown hair

He talked about the beauty

Of his Blue Ridge Mountain home

And damn near made me think that I was there

And he'd say buddy you know

Where I'm goin' when they let me out of here

Alabama could be heaven if the Lord was there

When a man ain't got no freedom

The time sure passes slow

Willie Jones had ten long years to go

It's been almost a years 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

Is gonna see this boy again

But if you're ever down our way

Won't you please drop by

Buddy you know where I'm going

When they let me out of here

Alabama could be heaven if the Lord was there

And he talked about the southland

Though he'd drifted from its shore

I never seen a man who loved it more