Текст пісні
John Hardy was a desperate little man
He carried two guns every day
He shot a man on the West Virginia line
You ought to see John Hardy gettin' away
John Hardy got to the stone bridge
He thought he would be free
When up stepped a man and took him by the arm
Saying "Johnny walk along with me"
He sent for his pappy and his mommy too
To come and go his bail
But money won't go on a murderin' case
And they locked John Hardy back in jail
They locked him up in jail
John Hardy had a pretty little girl
The dress that she wore was blue
As she came skippin' through the old jail hall
Sayin' "Pappy I've been true to you"
John Hardy had another little girl
The dress that she wore was red
She followed John Hardy to his hanging ground
Saying "Pappy I would rather be dead
Oh pappy I would rather be dead"
I've been to the east, I've been to the west
I've been this wide world round
I've been to the river and I've been baptized
And it's now I'm on my hanging ground
John Hardy walked out on his scaffold high
With his lovin' little wife by his side
And the last words she heard poor Johnny say
"I'll meet you in that street by and by
I'll meet you in that street by and by"