john hardy was a vicious little man he carried two guns every day he shot down a man on the west virginia line i see john hardy gettin away poor boy see john hardy gettin away john hardy went up to that free stone bridge where there he thought he was free a death to men called nobody his own siad johnny come and go with me poor boy johnny come and go with me john hardy had a pretty little wife back home the dress that she wore was blue she come to the jailhouse with a loud shout said johnny i ve been true to you poor boy johnny i ve been true to you she said john hardy sent out to the east coast sent for his folks to come and go his bail but there was no bail allowed for the murderin man they sent john hardy back to jail sent john hardy back to jail who s going to shoe your pretty little feet who s gonna glove your hand who s gonna kiss your rosy red cheek it s gonna be that steel drivin man be that steel drivin man she said now he s sittin alone there in his cell tears rolling down his eyes he s been the death of many a poor man now he is ready to die poor boy now he is ready to die sigin i ve been to the east i ve been to the west i ve seen this whole wide world around i ve been to the river and i ve been baptized take me to my hanging in the ground take me to my hanging in the ground she said