[Verse 1]
John Hardy, he was a desperate little man
Carried two guns every day
He shot a man down on the West Virginia line
They saw John Hardy getting away
They saw John Hardy getting away
[Verse 2]
They cornered John Hardy on the Tombstone bridge
He thought that he was free
'Til the deputy sheriff came and grabbed him by the arm
Said, "Johnny, come along with me
Johnny, come along with me"
[Verse 3]
John Hardy, he stood inside his cell
Tears running down his eyes
Said, "I've seen the death of many a poor boy
Now I'm ready to die
Now I'm ready to die
[Verse 4]
"Well, I've been to the east and I've been to the west
I've been the whole world round
Well, I've been to the north and I've been to the south
Now I'm going to my hanging ground
I'm going to my hanging ground"
Lyrics provided by LRCLIB