John Hardy he was a desperate little man
He carried two guns every day
He shot him a man on the West Virginia line
See old John Hardy gettin' away
See old John Hardy gettin' away
John Hardy went down to the east stone bridge
There he thought he would be free
Then up came a man and took him by his arm
Said Johnny walk along with me
Johnny walk along with me
John Hardy he had a pretty little girl
The dress that she wore was blue
As she went skipping down to the old jail hall
Saying papa I've been true to you
Papa I've been true to you
John Hardy was laying on the jailhouse floor
With tears rolling down his eyes
Saying I've been the death of many a poor boy
And now I am ready to die
Now I am ready to die
I've been to the east, I've been to the west
Been all this wide world around
I've been to the river and I've been baptized
Now I'm going to my hanging ground
I'm going to my hanging ground
I've been to the east, I've been to the west
Been all this wide world around
I've been to the river and I've been baptized
Now I'm going to my hanging ground
I'm going to my hanging ground