Talk about troubles, I tell you I got 'em shovellin' sand on the Mississipi bottom
yeah yeah yeah, yeah yeah yeah
I killed me a man in Shelby County, they turned me in for the government bounty
yeah yeah yeah, yeah yeah yeah

Tennessee owns my soul, that little Georgia gal just wouldn't listen
She tried to run away with Stoney Lee I caught him and I put him six feet under
I wonder if he misses me? Tennessee owns my soul

Rottin' in a cell I try to forget her, wishin' like hell I'd never ever met her
yeah yeah yeah, yeah yeah yeah
Gotta get away, gotta see my baby, gotta leave tonight, she's drivin' me crazy
yeah yeah yeah, yeah yeah yeah

Tennessee owns my soul, if I can get as far as Lookout Mountain
Highway twenty four will carry me to the girl I killed another man for
Even then I know I won't be free, Tennessee owns my soul
I make it to the top of the twenty foot wall, the guard - I'm hit, and I think I'm gonna fall
yeah yeah yeah, yeah yeah yeah

Laying on a broken back and cryin', everything's goin' black and I'm dyin'
yeah yeah yeah, yeah yeah yeah Tennessee owns my soul, Tennessee owns my soul