The Redemption of John Hardy - Among The Oak & Ash

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?