John Hardy as recorded by Leadbelly
Tune every string a whole tone down
hence the song is in the key of G
A D E
John Hardy, he was a desperate little man
A D E
He carried two guns every day
A D E
He shot a man on the West Virginia line
E
I seen John Hardy getting’ away poor boy
E
I seen John Hardy getting’ away
A D E
John Hardy went up on that Keystone bridge
A D E
He thought he was free
A D E
Up came a man and he caught him by the arm
E
Said "Johnny, come and go with me poor boy,
E
Johnny, come and go with me"
A D E
John Hardy had a mother and a father too
A D E
He begged them to come and go his bail
A D E
There was no bail allowed for the murderin’ man
E
They chased John Hardy back in jail poor boy
E
They chased John Hardy back in jail
A D E
John Hardy he had a pretty little wife
A D E
And the dress she wore was blue
A D E
She come to the jailhouse with a loud shout
E
Said “Johnny I been true to you poor boy,
E
Johnny I been true to you”
A D E
John Hardy, was standing in his cell
A D E
And tears are rollin’ down his eyes
A D E
Said, "I have been at the death of many a poor man
E
And now I am ready to die poor boy
E
And now I am ready to die"
A D E
I’ve been to the east I've been to the west
A D E
I've been the whole wide world around
A D E
I've been to the river and I've been to baptized
E
Take me to my hanging ground Lord, Lord
E
And take me to my hanging ground
there will be a tab version so you can play the melody and chords all together
enjoy
salud amigos!
