“John Hardy”

Description

John Hardy, a "desperate boy... who carried a (gun) every day," threatens to kill any man who wins his money. Finally he does lose his money and shoots the other. Hardy flees, but before he can leave the state he is taken, tried, and hanged

Notes

Cox prints a copy of the execution notice for John Hardy, who was convicted of first degree murder. He follows this with assorted personal reminiscences about Hardy. Unfortunately, the texts he quotes are very confused (most include John Henry verses among the stanzas about John Hardy), and one has to suspect that the reminiscences are also confused.

We also note that Sharp was finding North Carolina texts of the song only 20 years after the murder -- a surprisingly quick diffusion. One is tempted to wonder if Cox's John Hardy is indeed THE John Hardy. - RBW

Historical references

• Jan 19, 1894 - Execution (in Welch, WV) of one John Hardy, convicted for committing murder during a gambling fight

Recordings

• Clarence Ashley, "Old John Hardy" (Columbia 15654-D, 1931; rec. 1930)
• Dock Boggs, "John Hardy" (on Boggs3, BoggsCD1)
• Carter Family, "John Hardy Was a Desperate Little Man" (Victor V-40190, 1930; Zonophone [UK] 4294, n.d.; rec. 1928; Bluebird B-6033/Montgomery Ward M-4741, 1935; on AAFM1)
• Eva Davis, "John Hardy" (Columbia 167-D, 1924)
• Eve David [pseud. for Eva Davis?] "John Hardy" (Diva 6010-G, c. 1930)
• Buell Kazee, "John Hardy" (Brunswick 144, 1927; on BefBlues1, ConstSor1) (on Kazee01)
• Leadbelly, "John Hardy" (Musicraft 311. 1945)
• Frank Proffitt, "John Hardy" (on Proffitt03)
• J. W. Russell, "John Hardy" (AFS 3163 A3, 1936)
• Mike Seeger, "John Hardy" (on MSeeger01)
• Pete Seeger, "John Hardy" (on PeteSeeger16) (on PeteSeeger27)
• Ernest Stoneman, "John Hardy" (OKeh 7011, 1925); "Justin Winfield" [Ernest Stoneman, Willie Stoneman, and the Sweet Brothers], "John Hardy" (Gennett 6619, 1928; on RoughWays1)
• Fields Ward, Glen Smith & Wade Ward, "John Hardy" (on HalfCen1)
• Walter Williams, "John Hardy" (AFS, 1937; on KMM)

References

1. Laws I2, "John Hardy"
2. Randolph 163, "John Hardy" (3 texts, 2 tunes)
3. BrownII 244, "John Hardy" (3 texts)
4. Chappell-FSRA 103, "John Henry" (1 short text, which despite the title appears to have two "John Hardy" verses and only one of "John Henry")
5. Leach, pp. 759-761, "John Hardy" (2 texts)
6. Friedman, p. 393, "John Hardy" (2 texts)
7. Lomax-FSUSA 85, "John Hardy" (1 text, 1 tune)
8. Lomax-FSNA 141, "John Hardy" (1 text, 1 tune)
9. Lomax-ABFS, pp. 124-126, "John Harty" (1 text, 1 tune)
10. Asch/Dunson/Raim, p. 50, "John Hardy Was A Desperate Little Man" (1 text, 1 tune)
11. Cohen/Seeger/Wood, p. 142, "John Hardy" (1 text, 1 tune)
12. Hodgart, p. 246, "John Hardy" (1 text)
13. JHCox 35, "John Hardy" (9 text, some of John Henry, some of John Hardy, some mixed: A is John Hardy with a John Henry second verse, B, C, and G are John Hardy with a John Henry opening verse, D, F, and I are pure John Hardy, E is John Hardy with material from John Henry and a "Pretty Little Foot" song, H is John Henry)
14. SharpAp 87, "John Hardy" (1 text, 1 tune)
15. Courlander-NFM, p. 179, "(John Hardy)" (1 fragment)
16. Darling-NAS, pp. 235-236, "John Hardy" (1 text)
17. Silber-FSWB, p. 197, "John Hardy" (1 text)
18. DT 656, JOHNHARD
19. Roud #3262
20. BI, LI02