Johnny Hard

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

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

Johnny Hart he wrote his mammy and his dad
Singin', "Come here and go my bail"
But money wouldn't go his murderin' 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
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 rather to see you in your winding sheet
Than to see you on that long rattlin' chain
Great God, see you on that long rattlin' chain"

Johnny Hart he stood in his jail cell
And the tears runnin' 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 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 rot in my grave
You can take me to my hangin' ground
Mister jailer, take me to my hangin' ground"