John Hardy Songtext
von Hamper McBee

John Hardy was a desperate little man
He carried two guns every day
He killed a man on that East Virginia line
John Hardy, he better got away
John Hardy, he better got away

John Hardy went down to that east-bound bridge
He thought that he would be free
But up stepped a man and took him by the hand
Saying, "Johnny, better walk along with me"
Saying, "Johnny, better walk along with me"


John Hardy had a pretty little girl
The dress that she wore was blue
She come a-skipping through that old jail hall
Saying, "Papa, I′ve been true to you"
Saying, "Papa, I've been true to you"

John Hardy had another little girl
The dress that she wore was red
She come a-skipping through that old jail hall
Saying, "Papa, I had rather be dead"
Saying, "Papa, I had rather be dead"

I′ve been to the East, I've been to the West
I've traveled this whole world round
I′ve been to the river and I′ve been baptized
But now I'm on my hanging ground
But now I′m on my hanging ground


John Hardy walked up to the scaffold high
With his pretty little wife by his side
And the very last words poor John Hardy said
"I will meet you in the sweet by and by"
"I will meet you in the sweet by and by"