Now the Georgia courtroom was crowded Ellie May took the stand
She was accusing the Reverend Joe Henry of bein' a no good preachin' man
Yes she was

She said the Reverend partook of my lovely body
The Reverend said Judge she lied
The judge said listen I’ll do the talkin' and the court's gonna justify
Yes they will

Well the prosecutin' attorney started pacin' the floor
Sweatin' and makin' threats
The fella sittin' next to me said I know that preacher's guilty
And they ain't even tried him yet

I said Son the Reverend Joe Henry's a good man
And he preached all over the bottom land
He spoke so a child could understand
There oughta be a whole lot more good folks like the Reverend Joe Henry
A preachin' in the bottom land

Well the judge called the court to order said defense will ya state your case
That defense lawyer walked to the jury box had a stern look on his face
One by one he pointed to the jury said the Reverend picked cotton by your side
He blessed your children the day they was born and he cried when your mama died
I seen him oh oh Lord God
Somebody cussed said hang him he's guilty the judge said now listen here
One more outbreak of emotion like that in this courtroom and I’ll just have it cleared
Yes I will

Then the foreman addressed the court said I've known the Reverend all his life
Said he got shot up so bad back there in the war that he couldn't even take him a wife
Now ya all know what I'm talkin' about don'tcha

Well I swore I'd never tell a soul but his life is layin' on the line
But there ain't no way on God's green earth that the Reverend could've done this crime

The Reverend Joe Henry's a good man
And he preached all over the bottom land
Spoke so a child could understand
There oughta be a whole lot more good folks like the Reverend Joe Henry
Preachin' in the bottom land

Folks Ellie May just folded like a chair fainted dead in her tracks
Ellie May I don’t believe I'da told that on him