John Hardy was a vicious little mannhe carried two guns every daynHe shot down a man on the West Virginia linenI see John Hardy gettin' away, poor boynsee John Hardy gettin' awaynnJohn Hardy went up to that free stone bridgenwhere there, he thought he was freena death to men, called nobody his ownnsiad, 'Johnny come and go with me' poor boyn'Johnny come and go with me.'nnJohn Hardy had a pretty little wife back homenthe dress that she wore was bluenshe come to the jailhouse with a loud shoutnsaid, 'Johnny, I've been true to you', poor boyn'Johnny, I've been true to you.'nnshe said,nnJohn Hardy sent out to the East Coastnsent for his folks to come and go his bailnbut, there was no bail allowed for the murderin' mannthey sent John Hardy back to jailnsent John Hardy back to jailnnWho's going to shoe your pretty little feetnwho's gonna glove your handnwho's gonna kiss your rosy red cheeknit's gonna be that steel drivin' mannbe that steel drivin' mannnshe said,nnNow he's sittin' alone there in his cellntears rolling down his eyesnhe's been the death of many, a poor mannnow, he is ready to die, poor boy,nnow he is ready to diennSigin' 'I've been to the east, I've been to the west'n'I've seen this whole wide world around'n'I've been to the river and I've been baptized'n'Take me to my hanging in the ground'n'Take me to my hanging in the ground'nnshe said