West Virginia’s traditional/folk music scene is vibrant and well-known. A myriad of festivals focused on those traditions draw visitors and participants from across the globe. The West Virginia State Folk
On American Pastimes: John Hardy Wasn t a Desperate Little Man
Desperate:
In dire need; being filled with, or in a state
of despair or hopelessness; without regard to danger or safety; extreme (in a
bad sense).
John Hardy was a desperate little man
He carried two guns every day
He shot down a man on that West Virginia line
You oughta seen John Hardy getting away
So
begins âJohn Hardyâ an American murder ballad based upon a historical account.
John Hardy was an African-American railroad worker in McDowell County, West
Virginia. In the spring of 1893 he was shooting craps and drinking heavily with