Letras
John Hardy was a brave and a desperate boy
Said he carried two guns every day
Shot his man in the Shawnee camp
And I saw John Hardy get away, poor boy
Saw John Hardy get away
John Hardy was standin' drinkin' by the bar
He was unconcerned with the game
When a pretty gal threw down fifty cents and said
Deal John Hardy in the game, poor boy
Deal John Hardy in the game
John Hardy stepped up with the money in his hand
Said, "Boys, I've got the money to play
And the man that wins this pretty gal's money
I've got the powder to blow him away, poor boy
Powder to blow him away"
The cards they was dealt and the money on the board
Dave Campbell won that twenty dollar bill
John Hardy drew his pistols and he took sure aim and fired
And he caused Dave Campbell's brains to spill, poor boy
Caused Dave Campbell's brains to spill
John Hardy had twelve long miles to go
Six of them he ran
Ran 'til he came to the White River's bank
And he fell on his bosom and he swam, poor boy
Fell on his bosom and he swam
John Hardy came in that long, low town
Where he thought he'd be out of the way
But the marshal stepped up and took him by the hand
Said, "Johnny, come along with me, poor boy
John Hardy, come along with me"
John Hardy was standin' in his cold prison cell
With the tears streamin' down his eyes
Said, "Been the death of many a poor boy
Now I'm ready to die, Lord, Lord, Lord, Lord
Now I'm ready to die, Lord, Lord"
They took John Hardy to the buryin' ground
Took him there for to die
And the very last words John Hardy ever said
"My .45 had never told a lie, poor boy
My .45 had never told a lie"
John Hardy was a brave and a desperate boy
Said he carried two guns every day
Shot his man in the Shawnee camp
And I saw John Hardy get away, poor boy
Saw John Hardy get away