Johnny Hart, he was a desperate little man
Carried a razor and a pistol every day
Cut down a man on the free state line
You should've seen Johnny Hart gettin' away, oh Lord
Seen Johnny Hart gettin' away
Johnny Hart made a run for the free state line
There he thought he'd be free
The man came walkin' and grabbed him by the arm
Sayin' Johnny come along with me, poor boy
Johnny come along with me
Johnny Hart, he wrote his mom and dad
Sayin' come here and go my bail
But money won't go his murdering charge
So they laid Johnny Hart back in jail, oh Lord
They laid Johnny Hart back in jail
Now the first one to visit Johnny Hart in jail
Was a girl with a rag on her head
Said I'd never thought I'd see you in that jail
I believe I'd rather see you dead, Johnny Hart
I believe I'd rather see you dead
Now the next one to visit Johnny Hart in jail
Was his loving wife she was so brave
Said I'd rather to see you in your winding sheet
Than to see you on that long rattling chain, dear God
Than to see you on that long rattling chain
Johnny Hart, he stood in his jail cell
And a tear ran down his eye
Said I've been the death of many a deputy sheriff
My six gun has never told a lie, no Lord
My six-gun has never told a lie
Hey, hey
Well I've run to the east, I've run to the west
I've run just as far as I can
If I ever get loose from this ball and chain
I'm gonna make it to the free state line, dear God
Make it to the free state line
You got guards to the east, guards to the west
You got guards this whole world round
But before I'll be a slave I'll rot in your grave
You can take me to my hangin' ground, Mr. Jailer
Take me to my hangin' ground
Carried a razor and a pistol every day
Cut down a man on the free state line
You should've seen Johnny Hart gettin' away, oh Lord
Seen Johnny Hart gettin' away
Johnny Hart made a run for the free state line
There he thought he'd be free
The man came walkin' and grabbed him by the arm
Sayin' Johnny come along with me, poor boy
Johnny come along with me
Johnny Hart, he wrote his mom and dad
Sayin' come here and go my bail
But money won't go his murdering charge
So they laid Johnny Hart back in jail, oh Lord
They laid Johnny Hart back in jail
Now the first one to visit Johnny Hart in jail
Was a girl with a rag on her head
Said I'd never thought I'd see you in that jail
I believe I'd rather see you dead, Johnny Hart
I believe I'd rather see you dead
Now the next one to visit Johnny Hart in jail
Was his loving wife she was so brave
Said I'd rather to see you in your winding sheet
Than to see you on that long rattling chain, dear God
Than to see you on that long rattling chain
Johnny Hart, he stood in his jail cell
And a tear ran down his eye
Said I've been the death of many a deputy sheriff
My six gun has never told a lie, no Lord
My six-gun has never told a lie
Hey, hey
Well I've run to the east, I've run to the west
I've run just as far as I can
If I ever get loose from this ball and chain
I'm gonna make it to the free state line, dear God
Make it to the free state line
You got guards to the east, guards to the west
You got guards this whole world round
But before I'll be a slave I'll rot in your grave
You can take me to my hangin' ground, Mr. Jailer
Take me to my hangin' ground