John Hardy Was a Desperate Man

by Bill Frisell

From the album: The Willies

Track 7 of 16 on The Willies (2002).

Duration: 5:18

The Willies cover art

Lyrics for John Hardy Was a Desperate Man

John Hardy, he was a desperate little man Strapped on his guns every day Shot down the man on the West Virginia line You oughta see John Hardy gettin' away When he ran up to Virginia around the East Stone Bridge Thought he would surely be free And along came a Marshal with a gun in his hand Said, "Johnny, hey, come along with me" John Hardy, he had himself a little woman The Dress she wore was blue And she howled on out to Johnny as he rode out of town Said, "Johnny, hey, I'll be true to you" Now his legend had traveled from the East to the West From the North to the South end of town But when the sun comes up tomorrow they'll take John Hardy down And show him to his hanging ground They're gonna let John Hardy swing down John Hardy, he was a desperate little man Strapped on his guns every day Shot down the man on the West Virginia line You oughta see John Hardy gettin' away You oughta see John Hardy gettin' away

Listen On

More from The Willies

  1. Sittin' on Top of the World
  2. Cluck Old Hen
  3. Everybody Loves Everybody
  4. I Want to Go Home
  5. Single Girl, Married Girl
  6. Get Along
  7. John Hardy Was a Desperate Man
  8. Sugar Baby
  9. Blackberry Blossom
  10. If I Could I Surely Would
  11. Cluck Old Hen (Reprise)
  12. Cold, Cold Heart
  13. I Know You Care
  14. Goodnight Irene
  15. Big Shoe
  16. The Willies