John Hardy was a desparate little man
 
 Strapped on a gun everday
 
 Shot down a man on the West Virginia line
 
 We all seen John Hardy get away
 
 We all seen John Hardy get away
 
  
  Ran out to Virginia on the East stone bridge
 
 Thought he would surely be free
 
 Along come a Marshall with a gun in his hand
 
 He said Johnny come along with me
 
 Johnny come along with me
  
 
 John Hardy had himself a little woman yea,
 
 The dress she wore was blue
 
 Called after Johnny as he rode out of town
 
 Said Johnny I'm true to you
 
 Johnny be true to you
  
 
 Said he'd have to travel to the East to the West
 
 To the North to the south part of town
 
 At sundown tomorrow they'll take John Hardy down
 
 Look who was hanging down
 
 Don't let John Hardy swing down
  
 
 John Hardy was a desparate little man
 
 He strapped on a gun everday
 
 He shot down a man on the West Virginia line
 
 We all seen John Hardy get away
 
 We all seen John Hardy get away