John Hardy was a desperate little man,
Carried two guns every day;
Killed him a man on the West Virginia line,
Oughta see John Hardy gettin' away,
Oughta seen John Hardy gettin' away.
John Hardy walked that Keystone Bridge,
He thought he was free.
Up steps a sheriff and he takes him by the hand,
Saying, "Johnny, you can come along with me, poor boy,
Johnny, you can come along with me."
He sent for his Mama and his Papa, too,
Come and go his bail.
But there were no bail for a murder charge,
So they throw John Hardy back in jail,
Threw John Hardy back in jail.
John Hardy had a pretty little girl,
The dress she wore was blue.
The very last thing that she said to him,
Said, "Johnny I been true to you Johnny, I been true to you."
I've been to the East and I been through the West,
I've been this wide world 'round.
I've been to the river and I've been baptized,
Now I'm on my hanging ground,
Now I'm on my hanging ground.