John Hardy married him a lovin' little wife The dress she wore vas blue She threw her arms around Johnny's neck Says, Johnny I be true to you, poor boy Says Johnny I be true to you John Hardy was a-standin' on the barrel of his gun So drunk he could not see When the police came and took him by the arm Says, Johnny come and go with me, poor boy Says, Johnny come and go with me John Hardy was a-standin' in the barroom door So drunk he could not see But the police came and took him by the arm Say, boy you may go with me, poor boy Say, boy you may go with me John Hardy's mother came to him Says, "Johnny what have you done?" "I've killed me a man in a poker game And I'm Standin' on the barrel of my gun, Lord, Lord Oh I'm standin' on the barrel of my gun The night John Hardy was to be hanged There came a storm of hail And it blew the hangman's scaffold down And they placed John Hardy back in jail, Lord lord Oh they placed John Hardy back in jail