Lyrics

[Verse 1] John Hardy he was a desperate little man He carried two guns every day He shot a man on the West Virginia line Might have seen John Hardy getting away poor boy Might have seen John Hardy getting away [Verse 2] John Hardy went up upon that freestone bridge There he thought he would be free Up stepped a man and he caught him by the arm Saying Johnny come and go with me poor boy Johnny come and go with me [Verse 3] John Hardy had a mother and a father too He sent for them to come and go his bail There was not no bail allowed for a murdеring man They shaved John Hardy back in jail poor boy And they shavеd John Hardy back in jail [Verse 4] John Hardy had a pretty little wife And the dress she wore was blue She come to the jailhouse with a loud shout She saying Johnny I've been true to you poor boy Johnny I've been true to you [Verse 5] 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 poor boy Now i am ready to die [Verse 6] 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 river and I've been baptized Now take me to my hanging ground lord lord And take me to my hanging ground