Willie Jones Lyrics - Bobby Bare

Bobby Bare 

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 he 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 shores 

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 darn near made me think that I was there 

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 

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 years 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 

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 shores 

I never seen a man who loved it more