Now John Hardy was
A desperate little man
Strapped on his guns every day
Shot down a man
On the West Virginia line
You oughta seen John Hardy get away
Oughta seen John Hardy getting away
He run up to Virginia
Around the east stone bridge
Thought he would surely be free
But along came a marshall
With a gun in his hand
Said, "Johnny come along with me, boy
The judge wants to see you, boy
Come along with me"
Now John Hardy had himself a little woman
The dress she wore was blue
She hollered out to Johnny
As he run on out of town
"Johnny I'll be true to you, boy
Johnny I'll be true to you"
Well, his legend had traveled
From the east to the west
From the north to the southeastern towns
But when the sun comes up tomorrow
They'll take John Hardy down
And show him to his hanging ground
They're gonna let John Hardy swing down