Jesse James was a lad
that killed many a man
He robbed with the Glendale train
He stole from the rich
and he gave to the poor
He'd a hand and a heart and a brain
Oh, Jesse had a wife
to mourn for his life
Three children they were afraid
But that dirty little car that shot Mr. Hart
Was laid poor Jesse in his grave
It was Robert Ford, that dirty little car,
I wonder how he does feel
For he ate of Jesse's bread
and he slept in Jesse's bed
Then he laid poor Jesse in his grave
For Jesse had a wife
to mourn for his life,
his children they were brave
Hoped a dirty little car
that had shodded Mr. Howard
Had a lid for Jesse and he was free
Now Jesse was a man,
a friend to the poor
He'd never rob a mother or her child
And there never was a man
with the law in his hand
That could take Jesse James when alive
Oh, Jesse had a wife
who mourned for his life
Three children, they were brave
But the dirty little car that shot Mr. Howard
Has laid poor Jesse in his grave
It was on a Saturday night,
the moon was shining bright,
They robbed the Glendale train,
And the people they did save,
Were many miles away,
T 'was those outlaws,
Brian and Jesse James.
Oh, Jesse had a wife
to mourn for his life,
Three children they were rich,
But the dirty little car that shot up Mr. Hyre
Had laid poor Jesse in his grave
Now the people held their breath
when they heard of Jesse's death
They wondered how he'd
ever come to fall
Robert Ford, it was a fact,
shot Jesse in the back
While Jesse hung a picture on the wall
Oh, Jesse had a wife
that mourned for his life
His children never free
But the dirty little coward
that shot Mr. Howard
Had a lid for Jesse in his grave
Now Jesse went to rest
with his hand on his breast
The devil will be upon his knee
He was born one day in
the county of Clay,
And he came from a solitary race.
Oh, Jesse had a wife
who mourned for his life,
These children they were brave.
The dirty little cowardly shot Mr. Howard
Had laid poor Jesse in his grave.
This song was made up by Billy Gashade
As soon as the news did arrive
He said there was no man
with a law in his hand
That could take Jesse
James when alive
Oh, Jesse had a wife
who mourned for his life
Three children, they were brave
But the dirty little coward
that shot Mr. Howard
Has laid poor Jesse in his grave