Tuning: D# G# C# F# A# D#

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDVNRJ227lU Recorded 1928 by the original Carter family, Maybelle, Sara and AP [Introduction] C F C F C F C G7 C [Verse 1]

John ^FHardy was a ^Cdesperate little man, He ^Fcarried two guns every ^Cday. He ^Fshot a man on the ^CWest Virginia line, And you oughta ^Cseen John ^G7Hardy getting a^Cway. ^G7 ^C

[Verse 2]

John ^FHardy, he got to the ^CEast Stone Bridge, He ^Fthought that he would be ^Cfree. And ^Fup stepped a man and ^Ctook him by the arm, Saying, “^CJohnny, walk a^G7long with ^Cme !” ^G7 ^C

[Verse 3]

He ^Fsent for his poppy and his ^Cmommy, too, to ^Fcome and go his ^Cbail. But ^Fmoney won't go a ^Cmurdering case, and they ^Clocked John ^G7Hardy back in ^Cjail. ^G7 ^C

[Verse 4]

John ^FHardy, he had a ^Cpretty little girl, that ^Fdress that she wore was ^Cblue, as ^Fshe came skipping through the ^Cold jail hall, saying, “^CPoppy, I've been ^G7true to ^Cyou!” ^G7 ^C

[Verse 5]

John ^FHardy, he had an^Cother little girl, that ^Fdress that she wore was ^Cred. She ^Ffollowed John Hardy to his ^Changing ground, saying “^CPoppy, I would ^G7rather be ^Cdead !^G7” ^C

[Verse 6]

I've ^Fbeen to the East, and I've ^Cbeen to the West , I've ^Fbeen this wide world a^Cround, I've ^Fbeen to the river and I've ^Cbeen baptized, and now I'm ^Con my ^G7hanging ^Cground.^G7 ^C

[Verse 7]

John ^FHardy walked out on his ^Cscaffold high, with his ^Floving little wife by his ^Cside. And the ^Flast word she heard poor ^CJohnno say, “I'll ^Cmeet you in that ^G7sweet by-and-^Cby. “ ^G7 ^C

[Outro] C F C F C F C G7 C

The Carter Family - John hardy was a desperate little man