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

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
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
And they shaved John Hardy back in jail poor boy
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 I've been true to you poor boy
Johnny I've been true to you
Johnny I've been true to you poor boy
Johnny I've 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
And now i am ready to die lord lord
And now i am ready to die
Go ahead and die

Uh huh

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 baptized
Now take me to my hanging ground lord now
Take me to my hanging ground