John Hardy
Traditional
Key of G · Chords: I IV V
Open in Bluegrass Book: transpose, play alongVerse 1
C G Oh, John Hardy was a desperate little man C G Strapped on his guns every day C G Shot down a man on the West Virginia line D You ought to see John Hardy getting away D G You ought to see John Hardy getting away
Verse 2
C G When he run up to Virginia around East Stone Bridge C G Thought he would surely be free C G And alone came a marshall with a gun in his hand D Said, “Johnny come along with me D G Johnny come along with me.”
Verse 3
C G The first one to visit John Hardy in his cell C G Was a little girl dressed in blue C G She went on down to that old jail cell D Said ‘Johnny I’ve been true to you’ D G ‘Johnny, I’ve been true to you’
Verse 4
C G The second one to visit John Hardy in his cell C G Was a little girl dressed in red C G She went on down to that old jail cell D Said ‘Johnny I’d rather see you dead’ D G ‘Johnny I’d rather see you dead’
Verse 5
C G I was let in to travel from the East to the West C G From the North to the South in the town C G But when the sun comes up tomorrow they'll take John Hardy down D And shone to his hanging ground D G They'll gonna let John Hardy swing down