[Verse 1]
Well, the judge, he found me guilty of wrongdoing, and he sentenced me to hang in mid-July
He looked down at me and said, "Your life's a ruin, if I were you, I'd break right down and cry"
Well, nobody seems to care that I ain't guilty, Lord, I never did the things they said I've done
But I guess they're gonna have to hang somebody, and it's looking like I'm gonna be the one

[Chorus]
So send my body home on a freight train, and don't worry none that I don't go first class
Send my body home on a freight train, so everyone can see me when I pass
And don't worry none about no fancy funeral 'cause it don't matter how they lay me down
Just see they bury me out by mama's apple tree and send my body back to my home town

[Verse 2]
Well, my mama was a damn hard working woman, and she tried to raise us kids without a fault
Last thing that she said, she was on her dying bed, was, "Son, don't get in trouble with the law"
Whenever my time comes to meet my maker, I'm gonna try to do my very best
I'm gonna try to stand and take it like a man when they ask if I have one request

[Chorus]
Well, I'll just say send my body home on a freight train, and don't worry none that I don't go first class
Send my body home on a freight train, so everyone can see me when I pass
And don't worry none about no fancy funeral 'cause it don't matter how they lay me down
Just see they bury me out by mama's apple tree and send my body back to my home town

[Outro]
Yeah, just see they bury me out by mama's apple tree and send my body back to my home town