john hardy he was a desperate little man he carried two guns every day he shot him a man on the west virginia line see old john hardy gettin away see old john hardy gettin away john hardy went down to the east stone bridge there he thought he would be free then up came a man and took him by his arm said johnny walk along with me johnny walk along with me john hardy he had a pretty little girl the dress that she wore was blue as she went skipping down to the old jail hall saying papa i ve been true to you papa i ve been true to you john hardy was laying on the jailhouse floor with tears rolling down his eyes saying i ve been the death of many a poor boy and now i am ready to die now i am ready to die i ve been to the east i ve been to the west been all this wide world around i ve been to the river and i ve been baptized now i m going to my hanging ground i m going to my hanging ground i ve been to the east i ve been to the west been all this wide world around i ve been to the river and i ve been baptized now i m going to my hanging ground i m going to my hanging ground