D C G D 4x [Verse 1] D G Willie Jones was a man I met when I lived in Baltimore Em A I was a guard and he was doing time D G In the three long years he stayed there I got to know him well Em A D Willie Jones he was a friend of mine [Chorus] C He used to say buddy you know where G I'm going when they let me out of here E A Alabama could be heaven if the Lord was there D And he talked about the south-land G Though he'd drifted from its shores Em A D I never seen a man who loved it more D C G D 2x [Verse 2] D G He talked about the whippoorwills in the Alabama night Em A Honeysuckle vine and sugar cane D G Swimming holes and fishing poles and early morning frost Em A D And sleeping under a tin roof when it rained D G He talked about a country road and a cabin in the pines Em A And a girl with wavy long chestnut brown hair D G He talked about the beauty of his Blue Ridge Mountain home Em A D And damn near made me think that I was there [Chorus] C Buddy you know where G I'm going when they let me out of here E A Alabama could be heaven if the Lord was there D When a man ain't got no freedom G Time sure passes slow Em A D Willie Jones had 10 long years to go D C G D 4x [Verse 3] D G It's been almost a year now since that hot night in July Em A Willie hit the guard and jumped the fence D G I had my rifle ready but I couldn't let it fly Em A D I shot over his head and we ain't seen him since D G Then last week the postman brought a letter to my door Em A Marked No Return Address and No Reply D It just said nobody north of Birmingham G Is going to see this boy again Em A D But if you're ever down our way won't you please drop by [Chorus] C Buddy you know where G I'm going when they let me out of here E A Alabama could be heaven if the Lord was there D And he talked about the south-land G Though he'd drifted from its shores Em A D I never seen a man who loved it more