Tarbox Ramblers
John Hardy


transmitted by The Tarbox Ramblers


Late 19th/early 20th century song.  Always liked the 
"desperate little man"  part......



John Hardy was a desperate little man
He wore two guns every day
Shot a man on The West Virginia line
I seen him make a getaway.....

John Hardy went up on the Freestone Bridge
Thought that he'd be free
Up stepped man from Thomasville,
Sayin  "buddy,  come and go with me."

John Hardy had a mother,  and a father too
They sent for to go his bail
But there ain't no bail for no murdering man
And they slammed John Hardy back in jail!!!

John Hardy stood in his jail-house cell
Tears rolled down from his eyes
Sayin  "I've been the death of many a poor soul,
And now I'm ready to die,  Good Lord,
Now I'm ready to die......"

"I've been to the East and I've been to the West,
I've been the whole wide world round
I've been to the river and I've been baptized,
And now I'm on my hanging ground,  Good Lord,
Now I'm on my burying ground."