John Hardy was a vicious little man

he carried two guns every day

He shot down a man on the West Virginia line

I see John Hardy gettin' away, poor boy

see John Hardy gettin' away



John Hardy went up to that free stone bridge

where there, he thought he was free

a death to men, called nobody his own

siad, "Johnny come and go with me" poor boy

"Johnny come and go with me."



John Hardy had a pretty little wife back home

the dress that she wore was blue

she come to the jailhouse with a loud shout

said, "Johnny, I've been true to you", poor boy

"Johnny, I've been true to you."



she said,



John Hardy sent out to the East Coast

sent for his folks to come and go his bail

but, there was no bail allowed for the murderin' man

they sent John Hardy back to jail

sent John Hardy back to jail



Who's going to shoe your pretty little feet

who's gonna glove your hand

who's gonna kiss your rosy red cheek

it's gonna be that steel drivin' man

be that steel drivin' man



she said,



Now he's sittin' alone there in his cell

tears rolling down his eyes

he's been the death of many, a poor man

now, he is ready to die, poor boy,

now he is ready to die



Sigin' "I've been to the east, I've been to the west"

"I've seen this whole wide world around"

"I've been to the river and I've been baptized"

"Take me to my hanging in the ground"

"Take me to my hanging in the ground"



she said