Jesse James
Words & Music:
Traditional American (1800s)
This is published in a
"Strum It!" arrangement in the September 2009 issue of Acoustic
Guitar.
C
F
C
G G7
Jesse James was a lad, he killed
many a man. He robbed the Glendale
train.
C
F
C G7 C
He stole from the rich & he
gave to the poor; he'd a hand & a heart & a brain.
CHORUS:
F
C
G G7
Poor Jesse had a wife to mourn
for his life. Three children, they
were brave.
C
C7
F C
G7 C
But that dirty little coward
that shot Mister Howard has laid poor Jesse in his grave.
It was on a Wednesday night,
the moon was shining bright, when they robbed the Glendale train.
With the agent on his knees, he
delivered up the keys to the outlaws Frank and Jesse James.
[alt last two lines:
"The people, they did say for many miles away
It was robbed by Frank &
Jesse James.]
CHORUS:
It was on a Saturday night when
Jesse was at home, talking to his family brave.
Robert Ford came along like a
thief in the night & laid poor Jesse in his grave.
CHORUS:
It was Robert Ford, that dirty
little coward. I wonder how he
feels?
For he ate of Jesse's bread
& he slept in Jesse's bed, then he laid poor Jesse in his grave.
CHORUS:
The people held their breath
when they heard of Jesse's death,
They wondered how he ever came
to fall.
Robert Ford, it was a fact,
shot Jesse in the back while Jesse hung a picture on the wall.
CHORUS:
Oh, Jesse was a man, a friend
of the poor, he'd never rob a mother or a child.
He stole from the rich and he
gave to the poor; so, they shot Jesse James on the sly.
CHORUS:
Well, this song was made by
Billy Gashade as soon as the news did arrive.
He said there was no man with
the law in his hand who could take Jesse James when alive.
CHORUS: