John Hardy

John Hardy - The Carter Family

John Hardy he was a desperate little man

He carried two guns every day

He shot a man on the West Virginia line

And you oughta seen John Hardy getting away

John Hardy he got to the Keystone Bridge

He thought that he would be free

And up steps a man and takes him by his arm

Saying "Johnny walk along with me"

He sent for his papa and his mommy too

To come and go his bail

But money won't go a murdering case

And they locked John Hardy back in jail

John Hardy he had a pretty little girl

The dress that she wore was blue

And she came skipping through the old jail hall

Saying "Poppy I've been true to you "

John Hardy he had another little girl

The dress she wore was red

She followed John Hardy to his hanging ground

Saying "Poppy I would rather be dead"

I've been to the east and I've been to the west

I've been this wide world around

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

And now I'm on my hanging ground

John Hardy walked out on the scaffold high

With his loving little wife by his side

And the last words she heard poor Johnny say

"I'll meet you in that sweet by-and-by"