Knoxville Courthouse Blues

I'm sittin' in Knoxville courthouse
Ain't got a thing to do
I don't wanna go to the movies
Couldn't if I wanted to
'Cause I'm on trial for lovin' you

Now this all started in a honky tonk
Just the other side of town
A girl come in took a stool by me
Ordered gin and drank it down
She lit up a cigarette, sexily turned around

Well she said my name is Janie
And asked me what was mine
I answered Hank as I walked to the jukebox
Droppin' a dime
Checked out her short dress, low neck line

Well, we danced for five or ten minutes
And I held her close to me
Kissed her lips and squeezed her hips
And judged about twenty three
Whispered in my ears, I said, "Yes, siree"

Now the scene is a little motel
Out on the state highway there in room 12
A little love is about to take place
And a state trooper breaks down the door
Shines a flashlight in my face

I said, "What the hell is this?"
And another man and woman come in
And the girl I'm with
Starts cryin' and screamin'
And she runs over to them
Said, "Thank God you're here, he
Tried to hurt me, mama"
I said, "Now, you don't mean?"
The cop says, "Son, the girl is seventeen

So that's why I'm in Knoxville courthouse
And the judge passed the sentence on me
And it's ten long years for statutory
Rape in the state penitentiary
Lord, I can't believe this is happened to me

So when next time you give a girl the eye
She gives you that certain smile
Just remember under that woman's breast
May beat the heart of a child
Don't you let yourself be the one to
Help a mixed up kid go wild

This story happened a lot, that's true
But you better hope and pray
It never happens to you