Το τραγούδι, βασισμένο σε αληθινό γεγονός, αποτελεί μια από τις πιο ζωντανές σελίδες της αμερικάνικης folk. Από τις άπειρες εκτελέσεις του John Hardy, διαλέγω τη μνημειώδη του Huddie William Ledbetter, ευρύτερα γνωστού ως Leadbelly. Ακριβέστερα, εκείνην με το ακορντεόν, όχι τόσο διάσημη όσο η κιθαριστική του ιδίου. 🟡 🟡 The song, based on a true event, is one of the most vivid pages of American folk. From John Hardy’s countless performances I choose the monumental one by Huddie William Ledbetter, widely known as Leadbelly. More precisely, the one with the accordion, not as famous as his guitar version.

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
John Hardy went up upon that freestone bridge
There he thought he would be free
Up stepped a deputy and he caught him by the arm
Saying “Johnny, come and go with me,” poor boy
Johnny, come and go with me
Johnny, come and go with me, poor boy
Johnny, come and go with me
John Hardy had a mother and a father too
He sent for them to come and go his bail
There was not no bail out for a murdering man
They shaved John Hardy back in jail, poor boy
And they shaved John Hardy back in jail
And they shaved John Hardy back in jail, poor boy
They shaved John Hardy back in jail
John Hardy had a purdy little wife
That Mrs., oh, she wore what blew
She came to the jailhouse with a loud shout
She saying “Johnny, I’ve been true to you,” poor boy
Johnny, I’ve been true to you
Johnny, I’ve been true to you, poor boy
Johnny, I’ve been true to you
John Hardy was standing in his cell
With tears a-rolling down his eye
I’ve been the death of a many poor boy
And now I am ready to die, Lord, Lord
Now I am ready to die
And now I am ready to die, Lord, Lord
And now I am ready to die
(Σε ορισμένες εκδοχές του Lead Belly ακολουθεί και το):
I’ve been to the East, I’ve been to the West
I’ve been this whole wide world around
I’ve been to the river and I’ve been baptized
Now take me to my hanging ground, Lord, Lord
Take me to my hanging ground