(With Charlie Daniels)
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 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
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 going
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 year 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