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"
John Hardy Was A Desperate Man Lyrics performed by The Carter Family are property and copyright of the authors, artists and labels. You should note that John Hardy Was A Desperate Man Lyrics performed by The Carter Family is only provided for educational purposes only and if you like the song you should buy the CD