John Hardy was a desperate little man,   He carried two guns every day   He Shot a man down in the West Virginia land   You oughta seen John Hardy gettin away, poor boy   See John Hardy gettin away      He sent for his Mama and his Papa, too,    Come and go his bail.    There weren't no bail on a murder charge,    So they threw John Hardy back in jail, poor boy   Threw John Hardy back in jail      I been to the East and I been to the West,    I've travelled this whole world round.    I been to the river and I been baptized,    And now I'm on my hangin ground, poor boy    And now I'm on my hangin ground      John Hardy saw his woman there   The dress that she wore was blue   The very last thing she said to him   Johnny I'll be true to you, poor boy   Johnny I'll be true to you