John Hardy

John Hardy he was a desperate little man

he carried two guns every day

he shot a man on the west v*rginia line

might have seen John Hardy getting away poor boy

might have seen John Hardy getting away

John Hardy went up upon that freestone bridge

there he thought he would be free

Up stepped a deputy and he caught him by the arm

saying Johnny come and go with me poor boy

Johnny come and go with me

John Hardy had a mother and a father too

he sent for them to come and go his bail

there was not no bail out for a murdering man

they shaved John Hardy back in jail poor boy

and they shaved John Hardy back in jail

John Hardy had a purdy little wife

that mrs oh she wore what blew

she came to the jailhouse with a loud shout

she saying Johnny ive been true to you poor boy

Johnny ive been true to you

John Hardy was standing in his cell

with tears a rolling down his eye

ive been the death of a many poor boy

and now i am ready to die lord lord

now i am ready to die

I've been to the east i've been to the west

i've been this whole wide world round

i've been to the east river and i've been baptised

now take me to my hanging ground lord now

take me to my hanging ground