The Story of John Hardy

Lyrics

[Intro, spoken] (This is the story of John Hardy) [Verse 1] Well, John Hardy, he was a desperate little man He wore two guns every day He shot a man on the West Virginia line Gonna get John Hardy by and by, oh boy Gonna get John Hardy by and by [Verse 2] Well, John Hardy went out on that Keystone Bridge And there he thought he was free And up came the deputy and grabbed him by the arm Said, "Johnny come and go with me, poor boy" Said, "Johnny come and go with me" [Verse 3] Well, John Hardy had a mother and a father, too He sent for them to come and go his bail But there was not no bailout for the murderous man So, they took John Hardy back to jail, poor boy They took John Hardy back to jail (Now, listen) [Verse 4] Well, John Hardy he had a pretty little wife The dresses she wore were blue She came to the jailhouse in a crazy tone Said, "Johnny, I'll be true to you, poor boy" Said, "Johnny, I'll be true to you" [Verse 5] Well, John Hardy was standin' in his cell His tears was rollin' down his eye He said, "I've been the death of many a poor boy But now I'm ready to die, poor boy And now I'm ready to die" [Verse 6] "Well, I've been to the east, and I've been to the west I've been this whole wide world 'round Well, I've been to the East River, now I've been baptized Now, take me to my hangin' ground, poor boy Now, take me to my hangin' ground" [Outro] Whoa, take me to my hangin' ground, poor boy Take me to my hangin' ground Take me