The Redemption Of John Hardy

Intro: verse 1 They say John Hardy was a bad man Low down and desperate too But you don't see the dark That lurks in the heart, until you do verse 2 By then it's always too late And somebody's got to pay In this case a man Who tried to steal a ham and get away "The love you gave me, couldn't save me" From his lips to god, he whispered "Don't you count on me "Don't you count on me" I've done you wrong A mother's son is gone verse 3 In one hand he held his pistol steady In the other, his drink, so well He toasted his friends "I'll see you all again, someday in hell verse 4 He made his way to Virginia They caught him on the track Shackled and chained They threw him on a train and sent him back "The love you gave me, couldn't save me" From his lips to god, he whispered "Don't you count on me "Don't you count on me" I've done you wrong A mother's son is gone Instrumental: Verse 5 N.C In prison he started to praying Was washed at the river bank The sentence handed out Left him little doubt that he would hang Verse 6 And the good people came in from miles The biggest crowd this town had ever seen And when the preacher sang We saw John Hardy hang, we were redeemed "The love I gave you, couldn't save you" From the lips of god, who whispered "Don't you count on me "Don't you count on me" I've done you wrong A mother's son is gone Outro Come home (come home) Come home (come home) Poor boy, won't you come home Come home (come home) Come home (come home) Poor boy, won't you come home