The Georgia courtoom was crowded 
As Ellie May took the stand 
She was accusing Reverend Joe Henry 
Of being a no good preaching man 

She said, the Reverend 
Partook of my lovely body 
The Reverend said, she lies 
The jury said, now listen 
I'll do the talking and 
The courts will justify 

The prosecuting attorney 
Started pacing the floor 
Sweating and making threats 

The judge's wife, sitting 
Back there in the back row 
Said, hey, Judge, I'll check 

Cause Reverend Joe Henry 
Is a good man 
He preached all over 
The bottom land 

He spoke so a 
Child could understand 
And there oughta be a 
Whole lot more good folks 
Like Reverend Joe Henry 
Preaching in the bottom land 

The jury said, shut up, Sally 
Will the defense take it's case 
Defense walked to the jury box 
With a stern look on his face 

One by one 
He pointed to the jurors 
And said, the Reverend 
Picked cotton by your side 

Blessed your child 
When it was born 
And he cried 
When your mama died 

Then he turned his back on the jury 
And his face was getting awful red 
He pounded his fists so hard 
He shook the room and he 
Whirled around and he said 

Lookie here, Reverend 
Joe Henry is a good man 
He preached all over 
The bottom land 

He spoke so a 
Child could understand 
And there oughta be a 
Whole lot more good folks 
Like Reverend Joe Henry 
Preaching in the bottom land 

Somebody cussed and said 
Hang him, he guilty 
The judge said, now listen here 

If there's one more outburst 
Of emotion like that 
I'll have this courtroom cleared 
Yes, I will 

Then the foreman 
Addressed the court 
And said, I've known the 
Reverend all his life 

He got shot up so bad 
Back there in the war 
That he couldn't even 
Take him a wife 
You know what I'm talking about 

Now I swore I'd never tell a soul 
But the Reverend's life is on the line 
And there ain't no way 
On God's green Earth that 
The Reverend could commit this crime 

Cause Reverend Joe Henry 
Is a good man 
He preached all over 
The bottom land 

He spoke so a 
Child could understand 
And there oughta be a 
Whole lot more good folks 
Like Reverend Joe Henry 
Preaching in the bottom land