John Hardy

Burl Ives - John Hardy



John Hardy was a desperate little man

He carried two guns every day

He shot down a man on that West Virginia line

You ought a seen John Hardy getting away

You ought to seen John Hardy getting away



John Hardy stood in that old barroom

So drunk that he could not see

And a man walked up and took him by the arm

He said Johnny, come and go along with me Poor boy

Johnny, come and walk along with me



John Hardy stood in his old jail cell

The tears running down from his eyes

He said I've been the death of many a poor boy

But my six-shooters never told a lie

No, my six-shooters never told a lie



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

She said Johnny, I've been true to you God knows

Johnny, I've been true to you



The next one to Visit John Hardy in his cell

Was a little girl dressed in red

She come down to that old jail cell

She said, Johnny, I had rather see you dead

Well, Johnny, I had rather see you dead



I've been to the East and I've been to the West

I've traveled this wide world around

I've been to that river and I've been baptized

So take me to my burying ground

So take me to my burying ground



John Hardy was a desperate little man

He carried two guns every day

He shot down a man on the West Virginia line

You ought to seen old John Hardy getting away

You ought to seen old John Hardy getting away