John Hardy

The Carter Family, Grateful Dead

About John Hardy

"John Hardy" is a traditional American folk song based on the life of a railroad worker living in McDowell County, West Virginia in the Spring of 1893. The historical John Hardy is believed to have gotten into a drunken dispute during a craps game held near Keystone, and subsequently killed a man named Thomas Drews. Hardy was found guilty of murder in the first degree, and was hanged on January 19, 1894, with 3,000 people allegedly in attendance. Hardy is believed to have made peace with the Lord the morning before his death by being baptized in a river. The song has been performed by numerous artists from the 1920s through the present, including (in alphabetical order) Tom Adams, Clarence "Tom" Ashley, Tony Rice, Long John Baldry, Bobby Bare, Leon Bibb, Norman Blake, Dock Boggs, Jimmy Bowen, The Carter Family, Billy Childish, Roy Clark, Michael Cleveland, The Coachmen, Fred Cockerham, Country Gazette, The Country Gentlemen, The Dillards, Lonnie Donegan, The Easy Riders, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Paul Evans, Raymond Fairchild, Flatt & Scruggs with Doc Watson, Bela Fleck, Michael Fracasso, Bill Frisell, The Gun Club, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Roy Harvey, Higher Ground Bluegrass, Wayne Henderson, Bart Hopkin, Lightnin' Hopkins, Cisco Houston, Burl Ives, Tommy Jarrell, Buell Kazee, Kentucky Colonels, The Kingston Trio, Koerner, Ray & Glover, Tim Lake, Lead Belly, The Lilly Brothers, Laura Love, Manfred Mann (as the B-side to their hit single "Sha La La"), Ed McCurdy, John McEuen, Katy Moffatt, Bill Monroe, Andrew Morse, Alan Munde, Northern Lights, Osborne Brothers, Peter Ostroushko, Pine Valley Cosmonauts, Jerry Reed, Ola Belle Reed, Don Reno, Luther Russell, Doug Sahm, Earl Scruggs, Charles Seeger, Mike Seeger, Pete Seeger, Silver Apples, Martin Simpson, Sir Douglas Quintet, Sleepy Man Banjo Boys, Hobart Smith, Chris Smither, Roger Sprung, John Stewart, Ernest Stoneman, The String Cheese Incident, Steve Suffet, Todd Taylor, George Thorogood, Tony Trischka, The Twilights, Uncle Tupelo, Ben Webster, The Williamson Brothers and Glenn Yarbrough. The earliest known recordings are credited to Eva Davis for Columbia in 1924, Ernest Stoneman for Okeh in 1925, and Buell Kazee for Brunswick in 1927. As with many other traditional folk songs, lyrics change from version to version. Early folk historians confused the ballads of John Hardy and John Henry. This has led to a mixing of stories related to Hardy and Henry. In fact, the historical John Henry was a steel driver, not a railroad worker. 


Year:
2010
2:57
277 
#1

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John Hardy was a desperate little man
He carried two guns every day
He shot down a man on that West Virginia line
You ought a seen John Hardy getting away
You ought to seen John Hardy getting away

John Hardy stood in that old barroom
So drunk that he could not see
And a man walked up and took him by the arm
He said Johnny, come and go along with me Poor boy
Johnny, come and walk along with me

John Hardy stood in his old jail cell
The tears running down from his eyes
He said I've been the death of many a poor boy
But my six-shooters never told a lie
No, my six-shooters never told a lie

The first one to visit John Hardy in his cell
Was a little girl dressed in blue
She came down to that old jail cell
She said Johnny, I've been true to you God knows
Johnny, I've been true to you

The next one to Visit John Hardy in his cell
Was a little girl dressed in red
She come down to that old jail cell
She said, Johnny, I had rather see you dead
Well, Johnny, I had rather see you dead

I've been to the East and I've been to the West
I've traveled this wide world around
I've been to that river and I've been baptized
So take me to my burying ground
So take me to my burying ground

John Hardy was a desperate little man
He carried two guns every day
He shot down a man on the West Virginia line
You ought to seen old John Hardy getting away
You ought to seen old John Hardy getting away

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The Carter Family

The Carter Family was a traditional American folk music group that recorded between 1927 and 1956. Their music had a profound impact on bluegrass, country, Southern Gospel, pop and rock musicians as well as on the U.S. folk revival of the 1960s. They were the first vocal group to become country music stars. Their recordings of songs as "Wabash Cannonball", "Can the Circle Be Unbroken", "Wildwood Flower" and "Keep On the Sunny Side" made them country standards. more »

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Written by: Manfred Mann, Mike Hugg, Mike Vickers, Paul Jones, Tom McGuinness

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


12 facts about this song

Origin
"John Hardy" is a traditional American folk song based on the real-life story of a railroad worker who kills a man in a gambling dispute.
Bill Monroe
Bluegrass pioneer Bill Monroe's version of "John Hardy", while retaining the original melody, prominently features his iconic mandolin playing and high tenor vocals.
Bobby Bare
Country singer Bobby Bare's rendition of "John Hardy" appears on his 1969 album "Your Husband, My Wife". His version is slower-paced and has a more traditional country sound.
Jerry Reed
Known for his unique style of country and rockabilly music, Jerry Reed's version of "John Hardy" was featured in the 1975 album titled "Mind Your Love".
Pete Seeger
Folk singer and social activist Pete Seeger performed a version of "John Hardy" that not only emphasizes the tale's moral implications but also showcases his banjo skills.
The Carter Family
One of the most influential groups in country and folk music, The Carter Family's recording of "John Hardy Was a Desperate Little Man" from the 1920s is considered a classic version of the song.
The Gun Club
The Los Angeles punk band, The Gun Club, performed a raucous, stripped-down version of "John Hardy" that is markedly different from the traditional country renditions of the song.
The String Cheese Incident
The Colorado jam band, The String Cheese Incident, often includes "John Hardy" in their live performances, blending bluegrass, rock, and improvisational elements into the song.
Uncle Tupelo
The alternative country band Uncle Tupelo's version of "John Hardy" hits closer to home with its raw and powerful interpretation, which truly encapsulates the essence of this ageless tale of crime and punishment.
Influence
The widespread cover versions of "John Hardy" demonstrate the song's ability to transcend genres and time. It continues to be a staple in the repertoire of many folk, country, and bluegrass musicians.
Lyrics
The lyrics of "John Hardy" recount the story of the main character's crime, trial, and execution, serving as a cautionary tale against violence.
Real-life John Hardy
The real John Hardy was executed in 1894 for murder. His life and death became the subject of numerous songs, plays, and stories in Southern American folklore.

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