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 and cry."

Well nobody care that I ain't guilty
Lord, I never did the things they said I've done
But I guess there gonna have to hang somebody
And it's looking like I'm gonna be the one

(chorus)
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 freight 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 workin' woman
And she try to raise us kids without a pa
Last thing that she said, she was on her dying bed, was
"Son don't get in trouble with the law."
Whenever my times 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
And when they ask if I have one request
I'll just say
(repeat chorus)
Yeah, just see they bury me out by Mama's apple tree
And send my body back to my home to