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