Ernest Stoneman — John Hardy

[Intro & Harmonica Solo] [Verse 1] John Hardy was a wild and a reckless man He cared not what he done He killed two men in Shawnee Town 'Cause he was too nervy for to run ’Cause he was too nervy for to run [Verse 2] John Hardy was a gamblin' man He lived in a gamblin' town And now he’s sentenced to be hung 'Cause he shot another gambler down 'Cause he shot another gambler down [Verse 3] John Hardy was standin' by the barroom door So drunk he could not see Along come his woman five dollars in her hand Said, "Count John Hardy in a game Count John Hardy in a game" [Verse 4] John Hardy went staggerin' by the courthouse door As drunk as he could bе Along come the sheriff and took him by thе arm Said, "John Hardy, come and go with me John Hardy, come and go with me" [Verse 5] Friends and relations standin' around Said, "John, what have you done?" "I've killed two men in Shawnee Town And I'm standin’ on my hangin’ ground I am standin' on my hangin’ ground" [Verse 6] He said, "If I die a gamblin' man Go bury me under the stand A pick and shovel at my head and feet And a jack of diamonds in my hand A jack of diamonds in my hand" [Verse 7] John Hardy had a wife, and she lived in the west She always dressed in blue And when she heard of John Hardy's death "John Hardy, I was true to you John Hardy, I was true to you" [Verse 8] They took him to the riverside He was willin' to be baptized The last words I hear John Hardy say "I wanna go to Heaven when I die I wanna go to Heaven when I die" [Harmonica Solo & Outro]