John Hardy, he was a desperate little man He carried two guns every day He shot a man on the West Virginia line I seen John Hardy getting’ away poor boy I seen John Hardy getting’ away John Hardy went up on that Keystone bridge He thought he was free Up came a man and he caught him by the arm Said "Johnny, come and go with me poor boy, Johnny, come and go with me" John Hardy had a mother and a father too He begged them to come and go his bail There was no bail allowed for the murderin’ man They chased John Hardy back in jail poor boy They chased John Hardy back in jail John Hardy he had a pretty little wife And the dress she wore was blue She come to the jailhouse with a loud shout Said ’Johnny I been true to you poor boy, Johnny I been true to youâ?� John Hardy, was standing in his cell And tears are rollin’ down his eyes Said, "I have been at the death of many a poor man And now I am ready to die poor boy And now I am ready to die" I’ve been to the east I've been to the west I've been the whole wide world around I've been to the river and I've been to baptized Take me to my hanging ground Lord, Lord And take me to my hanging ground