Well, the judge he found me guilty of wrong doing
And he sentenced me to hang in mid July
He looked down at me and said, "Your life's a ruined
"If I were you, I'd break right down a cry"
Well, nobody seems to care that I ain't guilty
Lord, I never did the things they said I've done
But I guess they're gonna have to hang somebody
And it's looking like I'm gonna be the one
So send my body home on a freight train
And don't worry none that I don't go first class
Send my body home on a fright train
So everyone can see me when I pass
And don't worry none about no fancy funeral
'Cause it don't matter how they lay me down
Just see they bury me out by mama's apple tree
And send my body back to my home town
Well, my mama was a damn hard working woman
And she tried to raise us kids without a fault
Last thing she said, she was on her dying bed was
"Son, don't get in trouble with the law"
Whenever my time comes to meet my maker
I'm gonna try to do my very best
I'm gonna try to stand and take it like a man
When they ask if I have one request
Well, I'll just say, "Send my body home on a freight train
And don't worry none that I don't go first class
Send my body home on a fright train
So everyone can see me when I pass"
"And don't worry none about no fancy funeral
'Cause it don't matter how they lay me down
Just see they bury me out by mama's apple tree
And send my body back to my home town"
Yeah, just see they bury me out by mama's apple tree
And send my body back to my home town