They accused me of forgery, I couldn't write my name
They accused me of looking and I didn't see a thing
Didn't mean to cause no trouble and I meant no bodily harm
All I had was this body and the muscle in my arm
They gave me the third degree
They hung me from a tree, third degree

And they're giving me the third degree
But it's plain to see without a learned degree
I didn't know a chopping hoe could bring a mountain down
They're giving me the third degree
They hung me from a tree, that third degree

She came down the turn row with a bucket in her hand
She brought Alberta peaches and they all knew I's her man
She didn't have no business hanging out down where they were
And everybody wants something and they all wanted her

They're giving me the third degree
But it's plain to see without a learned degree
I didn't know a chopping hoe could bring a mountain down
And they're giving me the third degree
They hung me from a tree, that third degree
That third degree

Siting with my peaches when I heard her crying out
Peaches in my pocket and blood here on this ground
They took her away from me, they took her away from me
They took her away from me in a third degree
In a third degree
It's a third degree