Jesse James was a lad that killed many a man He robbed the Danville train He stole from the rich and he gave to the poor He'd a hand, a heart, and a brain
Jesse was a man, a friend to the poor He couldn't see a brother suffer pain And with his brother Frank he robbed the Springfield bank And he stopped the Glendale train
Poor Jesse had a wife, a lady all her life And three children, they were so brave But that dirty lettle coward that shot Mr. Joward Has laid ol' Jesse James in his grave
It was Robert Ford, the dirty little coward And I wonder how he feels For he slept in Jesse's bed and he ate o' Jesse's bread But he laid Jesse James in his grave
It was with his brother Frank that he robbed the Gallatin Bank An' carried the money from the town It was at that very place that they had a little chase For they shot ol' Captain Sheets to the ground
Poor Jesse had a wife to morn for his life And three children, they were so brave But that dirty lettle coward that shot Mr. Joward Has laid ol' Jesse James in his grave
They went to a crossing, not very far from there And there they did the same For the agent on his knees delivered up the keys To the outlaws, Frank an' Jesse James
It was on a Wednesday night, not a star was in sight When they robbed the Glendale train Those people, they did say for many miles away It was robbed by Frank an' Jesse James
Poor Jesse had a wife to mourn for his life And three children, they were so brave But that dirty lettle coward that shot Mr. Joward Has laid ol' Jesse James in his grave
Then on a Saturday night, Jesse was at home Just talking with his family brave When Robert Ford came along like a thief in the night And laid poor Jesse in his grave
Now, the people held their breath when they heard of Jesse's death They wondered how he came to die It was one of his own gang called little Robert Ford An' he shot Jesse James on the sly
Poor Jesse had a wife who mourned for his life And three children, they were so brave But that dirty lettle coward that shot Mr. Joward Has laid ol' Jesse James in his grave
Jesse went to his rest with his hand upon his breast And there are many who never saw his face He was born one day in the County of Clay And he came from a solitary race
This song was made by Billy Gashade As soon as the news did arrive He said there's no one man with the law in his hand Could ever take ol' Jesse James alive
Poor Jesse had a wife to mourn his life An' his children too, they were brave But that dirty little coward shot Mr. Howard An' laid Jesse James in his grave
Oh, they laid poor Jesse in his grave, yes, Lord They laid Jesse James in his grave Oh, he took from the rich and he gave to the poor But, they laid Jesse James in his grave