John Hardy married him a lovin' little wife
The dress she wore vas blue
She threw her arms around Johnny's neck
Says, Johnny I be true to you, poor boy
Says Johnny I be true to you
John Hardy was a-standin' on the barrel of his gun
So drunk he could not see
When the police came and took him by the arm
Says, Johnny come and go with me, poor boy
Says, Johnny come and go with me
John Hardy was a-standin' in the barroom door
So drunk he could not see
But the police came and took him by the arm
Say, boy you may go with me, poor boy
Say, boy you may go with me
John Hardy's mother came to him
Says, "Johnny what have you done?"
"I've k**ed me a man in a poker game
And I'm Standin' on the barrel of my gun, Lord, Lord
Oh I'm standin' on the barrel of my gun
The night John Hardy was to be hanged
There came a storm of hail
And it blew the hangman's scaffold down
And they placed John Hardy back in jail, Lord lord
Oh they placed John Hardy back in jail