Johnny Hart

Johnny Hart

Johnny Hart, he was a desperate little man
Carried a gun and razor every day
Cut down a man on a free state line
You oughtt've seen Johnny Hart gettin' away, poor boy,
You ought've 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 walkin' and grabbed him by his arm
Sayin', "Johnny walk along with me, poor boy,
Johnny walk along with me"

Johnny Hart, he wrote his mammy and his dad
Sayin', come here and go my bail
But money won't go his murdering charge
So they lay Johnny Hart back in jail, yes Lord
They lay 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 lovely little wife, so brave
She said, "I'd rather see you in your windin' sheets
Than see you on a that rattlin' chain, great God,
See you on a long rattlin' chain"

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

I've run to the east, I've run to the west
I've run just as far as I can
If I ever get loose from this ball and chain
I'm gonna make it to 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 be rotting in my grave
You can take me to my hangin' ground, mister jailer,
Take me to my hangin' ground

Available on:

Trouble No More
John Mellencamp

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