JOHN HARDY

Questions?
Song Title
JOHN HARDY
Writers
Ledbetter, Huddie
Publisher
Essex Music Benelux B.V.
% Publisher Controls
100%
Territory Controlled
Luxemburg
Themes/Keywords
Boy, Bridges, Crime, Desperate, Die, Free, Freedom, Gun, Hanging, Jail, Lord, Man, Police, Poor
Lyrics
John Hardy, he was a desp’rate little man,
He carried two guns ev’ry day,
He shot a man on the West Virginia line,
Might’ve seen John Hardy getting’ away, poor boy,
Might’ve seen John Hardy getting’ away.

John Hardy went up on that free stone bridge,
There he thought he was free;
Up stepped a deputy* and he caught him by the arm,
Saying, “Johnny , walk along** with me, poor boy,
Johnny, walk along with me.”

John Hardy had a mother and a father too,
He sent for them to come and go his bail;
There was no bail allowed for the murderin’ man,
And they shoved John Hardy back in jail, poor boy,
Ad they shoved John Hardy back in jail.

John Hardy, he had a pretty little girl***
The dress that she wore was blue;
She come to the jailhouse with a loud shout,
Saying, “Johnny, I’ve been true to you, poor boy,
Johnny, I’ve been true to you.”

John Hardy was standing in his cell
With tears a-rolling down his eyes;
“I’ve been the death of many a poor boy
And now I am ready to die, Lord, Lord,
And now I am ready to die.”

I’ve been to the East, I’ve been to the West,
I’ve been this whole wide world around;
I’ve been to the river and I’ve been baptized,
Now take me to my hanging ground, Lord, Lord,
Now take me to my hanging ground.”

Verse from Library of Congress sessions
John Hardy he had another pretty little girl
The dress she wore was red
She come a-skipping to the jailhouse door
Saying, “Johnny, I’d rather see you dead. poor boy,
Johnny, I’d rather see you dead.”

Other versions substitute these words: *man, **come and go, ***wife

Recordings

Recording Artist Genre Mood Arrangement Era iTunes
BUELL KAZEE Singer/Songwriter Lively, Sad, Up-tempo Banjo, Vocal 1950's Buy >
Lead Belly Singer/Songwriter Nostalgic, Resignation, Sad Acoustic Guitar, Vocal 1940's Buy >
Lead Belly Blues Nostalgic, Resignation, Sad Accordion, Vocal 1940's Buy >
MIKE SEEGER Singer/Songwriter Bittersweet, Lively, Up-tempo Banjo, Strings, Vocal 1960's Buy >
TONY RICE Bluegrass Energetic, Lively, Up-tempo, Upbeat Acoustic Guitar, Banjo, Instrumental 2000's Buy >
UNCLE TUPELO Alternative Determined, Resignation, Sad Drums, Guitar, Vocal 1990's Buy >

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