John Hardy, he was a desparate little man
He carried two guns every day
He shot a man on the West Virginia line
Might have seen John Hardy gettin' away, oh boy
Might have seen John Hardy gettin' away.

John Hardy went up on that keystone bridge
There he thought he was free
Until the deputy and he caught him by the arm
Sayin' Johnny come and go with me, oh boy
Johnny come and go with me
And Johnny come and go with me, oh boy
Johnny come and go with me.

John Hardy had a mother and a father, too
He sent for them to come and go his bail
There was not no bail out for a murderin' man
They shoved John Hardy back in jail, oh boy
And they shoved John Hardy back in jail
And they shoved John Hardy back in jail, oh boy
They shoved John Hardy back in jail.

John Hardy had a pretty little wife
The dresses that she wore was blue
She come to the jail house with a loud shouts
Sayin' Johnny I’ve been true to you, oh boy
Johnny I’ve been true to you
Johnny I’ve been true to you, oh boy
Johnny I’ve been true to you.

John Hardy was standin' in his cell
With tears a-rollin down his eyes
I’ve seen the death of a many poor boy
Now I’m ready to die, Lord knows
Now I’m ready to die
And now I’m ready to die, Lord knows
Now I’m ready to die
(Go ahead and die...)

I’ve been to the east and I’ve been to the west
I’ve been this whole wide world 'round
I’ve been to the east river and I’ve been baptized
Now take me to my hangin' ground, Lord knows
Take me to my hangin' ground.