John Hardy was a desperate little man
He carried two guns every day
He blowed down a man
on the West Virginia line
You oughta seen John Hardy getting away
You oughta seen John
Hardy getting away
Well, John Hardy made a run
for that old state line
It was there he thought he'd be free
But a man walked up
and took him by the arm
Singing, Johnny, walk along with me
Singing, Johnny, walk along with me
Well, the first one to visit
John Hardy in his cell
Was a little girl dressed in blue.
She came down to that old jail cell
Singing, Johnny, I've been true to you,
Lord knows.
Well, Johnny, I've been true to you.
Then the next one to visit
John Hardy in his cell,
A little girl dressed in red.
She came down to that old jail cell,
saying, Johnny, I'd rather see you dead,
God knows.
Well, Johnny, I'd rather see you
dead.
John Hardy stood in his old jail cell,
the tears running down from his eyes.
He said, I've been the death
of many poor boys,
but my six -shooter never told a lie.
No, my six -shooter never told a lie
John Hardy was
a desperate little man
He carried two guns every day
Well, he blowed down a man
on the West Virginia line
You oughta seen John
Hardy gettin' away
You oughta seen John
Hardy gettin' away