The Redemption of John Hardy

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
By then it's always too late
And somebody's got to pay
In this case a man
Who tried to steal a hand 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."

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

He made his way to Virginia
They caught him on the tracks
Shackled and chained
They threw him on the 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."

Prison, he started to praying
Was washed at the river bank
His sentence handed out
Left him little doubt
That he would hang

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 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."

Come home
Come home
Poor boy, won't you come home?
Come home
Come home
Poor boy, won't you come home?