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Now John Hardy was a desperate little man,
Strapped on his guns every day.
Shot down a man on the West Virginia line.
You oughta seen John Hardy gettin'­ away,
You oughta seen John Hardy gettin'­ away.

Well he run up to Virginia around the east stone bridge,
Thought he would surely be free.
And along came a marshall with a gun in his hand,
Said Johnny come along with me,
Johnny come along with me.

Now John Hardy had himself a little woman.
The dress she wore was blue.
And she hollered on out to Johnny as he rode out of Town,
Said Johnny, I'll be true to you,
Johnny, I'll be true to you.

Now his legend had traveled from the East to the West,
From the North to the South end of town.
But when the sun comes up tomorrow, they'll take John Hardy down,
And show him to his hangin' ground.
They'­re gonna let John Hardy swing down.

Now John Hardy was a desperate little man,
Strapped on his guns every day.
Shot down a man on the West Virginia line.
You oughta seen John Hardy gettin' away,
You oughta seen John Hardy gettin'­ away.