Run a mile, run a mile to the river   Gonna throw off the hunting hounds   Run a mile, run a mile to the river   Gonna wash away or drown      Well I was only there for a minute   I was only passing through   I was only being friendly   But her pappy said he'd send me   To the grave for what I wanted to do      I should've known when she was so willing   I should've known that she was just a kid   I should've known I was a stranger   And that I would be in danger over   Something that I never did      Run a mile, run a mile to the river   Gonna throw off the hunting hounds   Run a mile, run a mile to the river   I'm gonna wash away or drown      Well I can't believe the story that she told her mom   And daddy and the vigilante crowd in town   That Lolita of the country set the dogs out on me   Lord they're gonna take me down      Well I'd rather swing a hammer in an Alabama   Slammer than to face what's coming after me   I gotta make it to the water, ride it to the border   Let the scent wash off of me      Run a mile, run a mile to the river   I'm gonna throw off the hunting hounds   Run a mile, run a mile to the river   Gonna wash away or drown      Run a mile, run a mile to the river   Gonna throw off the hunting hounds   Run a mile, run a mile to the river   Gonna wash away or drown