John Hardy
First recording and first release by Eva Davis (April 22, 1924 / 1924)
- Written by
- [Traditional]
- Publication date
- 1917
- Language
- English
- Comments
-
English musicologist Cecil Sharp heard this song in 1916 and included it in the book "English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians".
The lyrics are inspired by a real-life fact: John Hardy, "the most famous steel-driver ever known in southern West Virginia" (definition by John Cox), was hanged in 1894 for gambling and murder. He may (or may not) have been the same person as John Henry.
Partial lyrics -
John Hardy he was a desperate little man
He carried two guns every day
He shot a man on the West virginia line
Might have seen John Hardy getting away poor boy
Might have seen John Hardy getting away - Licensing
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