Johnny Hart (John Hardy)

Johnny Hart, he was a desperate little man
Carried a gun and a razor ever' day
Cut down a man on the free-state line
You oughta seen Johnny Hart gettin' away, poor boy
You oughta seen Johnny Hart gettin' away

Johnny Hart made a run for that free-state line
There, he thought he'd be free
But a man come a-walking
And grabbed him by his arm
Saying "Johnny, walk along with me, poor boy
Johnny, walk along with me"

Johnny Hart, he rode his nanny and his dad
Saying come here and go my bail
But money wouldn't go his murdering charge
So they laid Johnny Hart back in jail, yes Lord
They laid Johnny Hart back in jail

Now the first one to visit Johnny Hart in jail
Was a girl with a rag on her head
She said "I never thought I'd live to see you in a jail
I believe I had rather see you dead, Johnny Hart
I believe I had rather see you dead"

Now the next one to visit Johnny Hart in jail
Was his loving, little wife so brave
Said, "I'd ruther to see you in your winding sheets
Than to see you on that long, rattling chain, Great God
To see you on that long, rattling chain"

Johnny Hart, he stood in his jail cell
And the tears running down from his eyes
Said "I've been the death of a-many a deputy sheriff
But my six-shooter never told a lie, God knows
My six-shooter never told a lie

I have run to the East, I have run to the West
Run just as fur as I can
If I ever get loose from this ball and chain
I'm gonna make it for that free-state line, Great God
Make it for that free-state line

You've got guards to the east, got guards to the west
Got guards this whole world 'round
But before I'd be a slave, I'd run in my grave
You can take me to my hangin' ground, Mr. Jailor
Take me to my hangin' ground