Misc Traditional John Hardy guitar tab

John Hardy by Misc Traditional

John Hardy (Trad.)

Tabbed by PSimonR
email [email protected]

Based on the Peter Price Version (it’s on Youtube)

This is a great sing-along version. There are other 
tabs about - one of a Leadbelly version that I can’t 
play along with any recording of it (!), and a couple 
of fancy flat-picking versions that are just too hard 
for me.


Bass / Strum style

Basically there are two bars, one based off a C chord 
and one based off a G chord.
Don’t worry too much about playing the extra open strings,
except for the bottom E on the C bars where you can damp 
it with your thumb. The tune is played on the bass strings 
and the high strings are used for the accompaniment.


    C                        G
E|----0----0----0----0---|----3----3----3----3---|
B|----1----1----1----1---|----0----0----0----0---|
G|----0----0----0----0---|----0----0----0----0---|
D|------0h2---3----2-----|----0----0----0----0---|
A|--3--------------------|------0h2--------------|
E|-----------------------|---3--------3----3-----|


Then there’s some variations, especially on the G

   G(v1)                 
E|----3----3----3----3---|
B|----0----0----0----0---|
G|----0----0----0----0---|
D|-------------2-----0---|
A|------0h2--------------|
E|--3-------------3------|

   G(v2)                  
E|----3----3----3----3---|
B|----0----0----0----0---|
G|----0----0------2p0----|
D|-----------2p0---------|
A|------0h2--------------|
E|--3--------------------|

   G(v3)                
E|----3----3----3----3---|
B|----0----0----0----0---|
G|----0----0----0----0---|
D|-----------------------|
A|------oh2-------oh2----|
E|--3---------3----------|

And in parts of the song the strum upstroke is also 
played.

There are different lyrics for different versions, e.g 
Carter Family, Tony Rice, look ‘em up and pick out / 
make up your own. These are similar to Peter’s and 
include a PG rated verse about his lover.

Intro:

C |G |C |G |C |G |Gv1|Gv1|Gv2|G |


Verse:
C                |Gv3                        |
John Hardy was a desp’rate little man
C                         |Gv3               |
He carried two guns everyday
C                         |Gv3               |
He shot down a man on the West Virginia line
Gv3        |Gv3       |Gv3       |Gv3        |
You oughta seen John Hardy gettin’ away (poor boy) 
Gv3        |Gv3       |Gv3       |Gv3        |
You oughta seen John Hardy gettin’ away 


John Hardy got to the east stone bridge
He thought that he would be free
And up stepped a deputy and took him by the arm
Saying Johnny, walk along with me
Saying Johnny, walk along with me

Repeat Intro

He sent for his poppy and his mommy too
To come down and stand his bail
But bail won't go on a murdering case
And they locked John Hardy back in jail (poor boy)
And they locked John Hardy back in jail

John Hardy had a lovin’ little wife
The dress that she wore was blue
Fell to her knees, a’screaming and a’cryin’
O Johnny I been true to you (poor boy)
O Johnny I been True to you

John Hardy had a pretty little lover
The dress that she wore was red
She sent to the jail house where Johnny lies
I’m gonna miss John Hardy in my bed (poor boy)
I’m gonna miss John Hardy in my bed (know what 
                                   I’m talking about)

Repeat Intro (loud then quiet)

John Hardy stood in his cold prison cell,
The tears running down from his eyes.
He said, "I've been the death of many a poor boy.
Now I am ready to die (oh Lord)
Now I am ready to die”

"I've been to the east and I've been to the west
I've been this wide world round
I've been to the river and I've been baptized
Take me to my hanging   ground, (oh Lord)
Take me to my hanging ground”

Repeat Intro and fade