John Hardy Traditional - Allan Lomax - Lead Belly John Hardy was a desp’rate little man He carried two guns everyday He shot down a man on the West Virginia line You oughta seen John Hardy gettin’ away (poor boy) (2) John Hardy stood at the gamblin’ table Didn’t have no int’rest in the game Up stepped a yellow gal and threw a dollar down Said: Deal John Hardy in the game (2) John Hardy took that yellow gal’s money An’ then he began to play Said: The man that wins my yellow gal’s dollar I’ll lay him in his lonesome grave (2) John Hardy drew to a 4-card straight An’ the Chinaman drew to a pair John failed to catch and the Chinaman won And he left him sittin’ dead in his chair (2) John started to catch that East-bound train So dark he could not see Up stepped the police and took him by the arm Said: Johnny, come and go with me (2) John Hardie father came to him Come for to go his bail No bail was allowed for a murderin’ man So they shoved John Hardy back in jail (2) The took John Hardy to his hangin’ ground They hung him there to die And the very last word I heard him say: My 40-gun never told a lie (2) I’ve been to the East, I’ve been to the West I’ve traveled this wide world around I’ve been to the river, I’ve been baptized And now I’m on my hangin’ ground (2) John Hardy had a lovin’ little wife And children she had three But he cared no more for his wife and his child Than he did for the rocks in the sea (2)   alles-uke.de