This is the story of John
Hardy.
Well, John Hardy was a
desperate little man
He wore two guns every day
He shot a man on the way
to the ten -yard line
Gonna get John Hardy by five, oh boy
Don't forget John Hardy, bye, bye
Well, John Hardy went out on
that free stone bridge
And there he thought he was free
And up came the deputy
and he grabbed him by the arm
He said, Johnny,
come and go with me, poor boy
He said, Johnny, come and go with me
Well, John Hardy had a mother and a father,
too
They sent for him to come and go his will
But there was not no bailout
for the mother and son
So they took John Hardy back to jail,
poor boy
They took John Hardy back to jail
Now listen, well, John Hardy,
he had a pretty little wife
The dresses she wore were blue
She came to the jailhouse in a crazy tone
Said, Johnny,
I've been through to you, oh boy
Said, Johnny, I've been through to you
Well, John Hardy was
standing in his cell
Tears was rolling down his eyes
He said, I've been the death
of a many a poor boy
But now I'm ready to die, poor boy
And now I am ready to die
Well, I've been to the east
and I've been to the west
I've been this whole wide world round
Well, I've been to the East River
and I've been baptized
Now take me to my hanging ground,
boy, boy
Now take me to my hanging ground
Whoa!
Take me to my hanging ground, boy, boy
Take me to my hanging ground
Take me to my hanging ground . .