The Ballad of Jesse James

Jesse James was a man And he killed many men He robbed the Glendale train And he took from the richer And he gave that to the poorer He'd a hand and a heart and a brain Oh Jesse had a wife to mourn for his life Three children they were so brave But that dirty little coward That shot Mr. Howard Has laid Jesse James in his grave On Wednesday night When the moon was shining bright They robbed that Glendale train And the folks from miles about (yeah they can) They all said without a doubt It was done by her Frankie and Jesse James (yes it was) Oh Jessie had a wife, to mourn for his life Three children they were so brave But that dirty little coward That shot Mr. Howard Has laid (poor) Jesse James in his grave Well the people held their breath When they heard about Jesse's death (yeah) And they wondered how poor Jesse came to die (how did he die?) It was one of his guys, called Little Robert Ford And he shot Jessie James on the sly Oh Jessie had a wife to mourn for his life Three children they were so brave But that dirty little coward That shot Mr. Howard Has laid Jesse James in his grave Has laid poor Jesse in his grave He laid Jesse James in his grave --- The Ballad of Jesse James - Lonnie Donegan