Jesse James was a lad
That killed many a man
He robbed the Glendale train
He stole from the rich
And he gave to the poor
He'd a hand and a heart and a brain
Well it was Robert Ford
That dirty little coward
I wonder now how he feels
For he ate of Jesse's bread
And he slept in Jesse's bed
And he laid poor Jesse in his grave
Well Jesse had a wife
To mourn for his life
Three children
Now they were brave
But that dirty little coward
That shot Mr. Howard
He laid poor Jesse in his grave
Well Jesse was a man
A friend to the poor
He'd never rob a mother or a child
There never was a man with
The law in his hand
That could take Jesse James when alive
It was on a Saturday night
Well the moon was shining bright
They robbed the Glendale train
And people they did say
O'er many miles away
"It was those outlaws Frank and Jesse James"
Refrão
When they heard of Jesse's death
They wondered how he'd ever come to fall
Robert Ford it was a fact
He shot Jesse in the back
While Jesse hung a picture on the wall
Jesse went to rest
With his hand on his breast
The devil upon his knee
He was born one day
In the County Clay
And he came from a solitary race
(Refrão)