John Hardy
Another pretty old song, done by Uncle Jon and Uncle Jeeter. I wonder if it would have brought John Hardy any solace to know he would be sung about a century later... after he was hung for murder.
John Hardy was a desperate little man
He carried two guns every day
He shot him a man on the West Virginia line
And you ought to see John Hardy getting away
You ought to see John Hardy getting away
John Hardy got to the east stone bridge
There he thought he’d be free
Up stepped the sheriff and took him by his arm
Saying Johnny, come along with me
Johnny, come along with me
He sent for his poppy and his mommy too
To come and go his bail
But there weren’t no bail on a murder case
And they threw John Hardy back in jail
they threw John Hardy back in jail
John Hardy had a pretty little girl
That dress that she wore was blue
She threw her arms around his neck
Saying Poppy, I been true to you
Poppy, I been true to you
I've been to the east and I've been to the west
I've traveled this wide world around
I've been to the river and I've been baptized
And now I'm on my hanging ground
Now I'm on my hanging ground