"I recorded (it) for my first record. It was a good song that I had written for Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs, but they had turned it down. It was inspired by an old folk medicine tale: if you wash your face in the morning dew, it will help remove blemishes from your skin. I changed it around to mean that the morning dew would purify your soul...(The record) did not make me a big star, although it did get into the top thirty country songs and made a little BMI money, in addition to selling enough records to encourage Mercury to make more. And it motivated me to have my teeth capped..."
The first strange town I was ever in The county was hanging a man Nobody cared if he lived or died And I just didn't understand.
So I washed my face in the morning dew Bathed my soul in the sun Washed my face in the morning dew And kept on moving along.
The second strange town I was in They were laughing at a poor crippled man Begging for nickels and dimes on the street And I just didn't understand.
So I washed my face in the morning dew Bathed my soul in the sun Washed my face in the morning dew And kept on moving along.
--- Instrumental ---
The third strange town that I was in Was settled peaceful and nice The rich got richer and the poor got poorer And to me it didn't seem right.
So I washed my face in the morning dew Bathed my soul in the sun Washed my face in the morning dew And kept on moving along.
Someday times are bound to change It can't be very far And each injustice I have seen Will come before the bar.
Then I'll wash my face in the morning dew Bathe my soul in the sun Wash my face in the morning dew And my journey will be done...