Well, John Hardy was a vicious little man
He carried two guns every day
He shot down a man on the West Virginia line
See John Hardy gettin' away, poor boy
See John Hardy gettin' away
Well, John Hardy went up to that free stone bridge
Where there, he thought he was free
A death to men, called nobody his own
"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
And she came 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
Johnny 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, poor boy
Sent John Hardy back to jail
Tell me now, 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 got to be that steel drivin' man, poor boy
"Be that steel drivin' man", she said
Now he's sittin' alone there in his cell
Tears rolling down his eyes
And he's been the death of many poor men
But now he is ready to die, poor boy
Now he is ready to die
Singing, "I've been to the east, I've been to the west
And I've seen this world around
Been to the river and I've been baptized
Take me to my hanging in the ground, poor boy
Take me to my hanging in the ground", she said
And I heard her say
I heard her call my name
She pulled the plug on him
Poor boy
