John Hardy oh he was a deperate little man 
Carried a gun everyday 
Well he shot down a man on a 
West Virginia line 
And they seen 
John Hardy gettin' away, poor ole boy, 
Seen John 
Hardy gettin' away 
But they cornered 
John Hardy on a tombstone bridge 
Thought that he was free 
But a deputy sheriff came and caught him by the arm 
He said, Johnny come and go with me, poor ole boy, 
Come and go with me 
John Hardy had a mother and a father too 
Tryin to go his bail 
But there was no bail out for the mother and man 
They put ole 
John Hardy back in jail, poor ole boy, 
Throw John 
Hardy back in jail 
John Hardy had a pretty little wife 
The dress that she wore was blue 
She ran through the jailhouse, she fell down on her knees 
She said Johnny 
I been true to you, yes 
I have, Johnny 
I been true to you 
John Hardy he stood inside his cell 
The tears rollin from his eyes 
I've been the death of many an honest man 
Now I am going to die alone, now 
I am goin to die 
Well I've been to the east, and 
I've been to the west 
I've been this whole wide world round 
I've been to the north, and 
I've been way down south 
Now take me to my hangman's ground, 
Take me to my hangman's ground