(Traditional)

Jesse James we understand

Has killed many a man

He robbed the Union trains

He stole from the rich and gave to the poor

He had a hand and a heart and a brain



Well it was on a Saturday night

The stars were shining bright

They robbed the Glendale train

And the people they did say from many miles away

It was those outlaws Frank and Jesse James



Now Jesse had a wife

Lived a lady all her life

Her children they were brave

But history does record

That Bob and Charlie Ford

Have laid poor Jesse in his grave



Well it was Bob and Charlie Ford

Those dirty little cowards

I wonder how they feel

For they ate of Jesse's bread

And they slept in Jesse's bed

And they laid poor Jesse in his grave



Well the people held their breath

When they heard of Jesse's death

They wondered how he came to fall

Well it was Robert Ford in fact

Who shot him in the back

While he hung a picture on the wall