[Verse 1]
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

[Chorus]
And he used to say, "buddy, you know where
I'm going when they let me out of here
Well, Alabama could be heaven if the Lord was there"
And he'd talk about the south-land
Though he'd drifted from its shores
I never seen a man who loved it more

[Verse 2]
He talk about the whippoorwill in the Alabama night
Honeysuckle vine and sugar cane
Swimming hole and a fishing pole
And the early morning frost
Sleeping under a tin roof when it rains

[Verse 3]
Talk 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
Damn near made me think that I was there
[Chorus]
"Buddy, you know where I'm going
When they let me out of here
Well, Alabama could be heaven if the Lord was there"
When a man ain't got no freedom
You know, time sure passes slow
Willie Jones had ten long years to go

[Bridge]
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
Shot over his head and we ain't seen him since
But just last week the postman brought a letter to my door
Marked no return address and no reply
Just said nobody north of Birmingham
Is going to see this boy again
But if you're ever down our way won't you please drop by

[Chorus]
And he used to say, "buddy, you know where
I'm going when they let me out of here
Well, Alabama could be heaven if the Lord was there"
And he'd talk about the south-land
Though he'd drifted from its shores
I never seen a man who loved it more
Never seen a man who loved it more