The original group consisted of Alvin Pleasant Delaney Carter (A.P.; 1891-1960), his wife, Sara Dougherty Carter (autoharp and guitar; 1898-1979), and Maybelle Addington Carter (guitar; 1909-1978). Maybelle Carter (later popularly known as Mother Maybelle Carter) was married to A.P.'s brother Ezra (Eck) Carter. All three were born and raised in southwestern Virginia where they were immersed in the tight harmonies of mountain gospel music and shape note singing. Maybelle Carter's distinctive and innovative guitar playing style quickly became a hallmark of the group.
The Carters got their start on July 31, 1927 when A.P. convinced Sara and Maybelle (pregnant at the time) to make the journey from Maces Springs, Virginia to Bristol, Tennessee to audition for record producer Ralph Peer who was seeking new talent for the relatively embryonic recording industry. They received $50 for each song they recorded.
In the Fall of 1927 the Victor recording company released a double-sided 78 rpm record of the group performing "Wandering Boy" and "Poor Orphan Child". In 1928 another record was released with "The Storms Are on the Ocean" and "Single Girl, Married Girl". This one proved very popular.
They stopped touring and recording in 1943.
In 1987, the three daughters of Maybelle Carter - June Carter (also known as June Carter Cash, following marriage to Johnny Cash), Helen Carter and Anita Carter, along with June Carter's daughter Carlene Carter, appeared as the Carter Family and were featured on a 1987 television episode of Austin City Limits along with Johnny Cash.
The Carters were elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1970 and were given the nickname "The First Family of Country Music". In 1988, the Carter Family was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and received its Award for the song "Will the Circle Be Unbroken". In 1993, the U.S. Postal Service issued a commemorative postage stamp honoring A.P., Sara, and Maybelle. In 2001, the group was inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Honor. In 2005, the group received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
The Carter Family III carries on the tradition. The group consists of A.P. Carter and Sarah Carter’s grandson Dale Jett, Maybelle Carter’s grandson John Carter Cash and his wife Laura Cash.
For more details, see the Carter Family biography at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/carterfamily/peopleevents/p_carters.html
John Hardy Was a Desperate Little Man
The Carter Family Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He carried two guns every day
He shot down a man on that West Virginia line
You ought a seen John Hardy getting away
You ought to seen John Hardy getting away
John Hardy stood in that old barroom
So drunk that he could not see
He said Johnny, come and go along with me Poor boy
Johnny, come and walk along with me
John Hardy stood in his old jail cell
The tears running down from his eyes
He said I've been the death of many a poor boy
But my six-shooters never told a lie
No, my six-shooters never told a lie
The first one to visit John Hardy in his cell
Was a little girl dressed in blue
She came down to that old jail cell
She said Johnny, I've been true to you God knows
Johnny, I've been true to you
The next one to Visit John Hardy in his cell
Was a little girl dressed in red
She come down to that old jail cell
She said, Johnny, I had rather see you dead
Well, Johnny, I had rather see you dead
I've been to the East and I've been to the West
I've traveled this wide world around
I've been to that river and I've been baptized
So take me to my burying ground
So take me to my burying ground
John Hardy was a desperate little man
He carried two guns every day
He shot down a man on the West Virginia line
You ought to seen old John Hardy getting away
You ought to seen old John Hardy getting away
The Carter Family's song "John Hardy Was a Desperate Little Man" tells the story of a man named John Hardy who was known for carrying two guns and shooting down a man on the West Virginia line. The song begins with this introduction, setting up the character's dangerous reputation. It is evident that Hardy is on the run from law enforcement as the lyrics describe him getting away.
The second verse of the song features Hardy in an old barroom, too drunk to see straight, and a man approaches him, asking him to come with him. This man's intentions are unknown, but we can imagine that it is either law enforcement or a friend trying to help. The third verse is of Hardy's time in jail, where he is remorseful for the poor boys he has killed but maintains that his six-shooters never lied. The last verse is of two women visiting Hardy in jail, one dressed in blue who says she has been true to him, and one in red who would rather see him dead.
The song speaks to the consequences of a violent lifestyle and the regret that can come with it. It's an interesting commentary on the culture of guns and violence in the Old West. The song could also be interpreted as a warning against leading a reckless, violent life.
Line by Line Meaning
John Hardy was a desperate little man
John Hardy was a man who was very desperate
He carried two guns every day
He always carried two guns with him
He shot down a man on that West Virginia line
He killed a man on the West Virginia state line
You ought a seen John Hardy getting away
You should've seen John Hardy quickly escaping the scene
John Hardy stood in that old barroom
John Hardy was standing in an old bar
So drunk that he could not see
He was so intoxicated that he couldn't see
And a man walked up and took him by the arm
A man approached him and took him by the arm
He said Johnny, come and go along with me Poor boy
The man told John Hardy to come along with him
Johnny, come and walk along with me
The man requested that John Hardy walk with him
John Hardy stood in his old jail cell
John Hardy was standing in his old jail cell
The tears running down from his eyes
Tears were streaming down his face
He said I've been the death of many a poor boy
He admitted to having killed many poor boys
But my six-shooters never told a lie
He claimed his weapons were never the cause of untruths
No, my six-shooters never told a lie
He doubled down on his previous statement about his weapons always being truthful
The first one to visit John Hardy in his cell
The initial person to visit John Hardy in jail
Was a little girl dressed in blue
The individual was a young girl wearing blue
She came down to that old jail cell
She arrived at the jail cell
She said Johnny, I've been true to you God knows
She professed her loyalty to John Hardy
Johnny, I've been true to you
She reiterated her faithfulness to him
The next one to Visit John Hardy in his cell
The subsequent person to visit John Hardy in jail
Was a little girl dressed in red
This person was also a young girl, but wearing red attire
She come down to that old jail cell
She came to the jail cell
She said, Johnny, I had rather see you dead
She expressed a desire for John Hardy's demise
Well, Johnny, I had rather see you dead
She reiterated her wish for John Hardy's death
I've been to the East and I've been to the West
I have traveled to both the East and West
I've traveled this wide world around
I have traveled all around the world
I've been to that river and I've been baptized
I went to the river and was baptized
So take me to my burying ground
Take me to my burial plot
John Hardy was a desperate little man
John Hardy was a man who was very desperate
He carried two guns every day
He always carried two guns with him
He shot down a man on the West Virginia line
He killed a man on the West Virginia state line
You ought to seen old John Hardy getting away
You should've seen John Hardy quickly escaping the scene
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Manfred Mann, Mike Hugg, Mike Vickers, Paul Jones, Tom McGuinness
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
achtsieben87
John Hardy (Desperate Man blues)
John Hardy was a desperate little man
He carried two guns every day
He shot a man on the West Virginia line
And you ought to see John Hardy getting away
John Hardy got to the east stone bridge
He thought that he would be free
And up stepped a man and took him by the arm
Saying Johnny, walk along with me
He sent for his poppy and his mommy too
To come and go his bail
But money won't go on a murdering case
And they locked John Hardy back in jail
John Hardy had a pretty little girl
The dress that she wore was blue
As she came skipping through the old jail hall
Saying Poppy, I been true to you
John Hardy had another little girl
The dress that she wore was red
She followed John Hardy to his hanging ground
Saying Poppy, I would rather be dead
"I've been to the east and I've been to the west
I've been this wide world around
I've been to the river and I've been baptized
And it's now I'm on my hanging ground"
John Hardy walked out on his scaffold high
With his loving little wife by his side
And the last words she heard poor John-O say
"I'll meet you in that sweet bye and bye"
Rex Burgess
Great I heard this when I was a kid and I,m 75 now Thanks for posting sure brought back memories
creeperMyEeper
i heard this when i was 2 and now i'm 9
Rkk O'Tilley
this song really brings back memories of when my parents died...I came home late from the glee club after school...and found mom and dad barely breathing from a heroin overdose...this song was playin in the background when I called 911
La Kalixa
Rkk O'Tilley geez, both tragic and deep. Hope you're ok!
Bruno R.
I'm sorry for your loss.
Paddy Eejit
So awful it’s Hard to believe, not saying it didn’t happen.
mary narkiewicz
Sara Carter..one of my Idols!! LOVE her voice!!
La Kalixa
Sometimes Jeffrey Lee Pierce whistles this song in Heaven♡
ridlem3this
Rip to the goat
Stuart Toraason
the jam. love this one. nice reading the original story. thanks.