Jesse James - Peter Seeger

Jesse James, we understand

Has killed him many a man

He robbed the Union trains

He stole from the rich

He gave to the poor

He had a hand and a heart and a brain

Well it was on Saturday night

The stars were shining bright

They robbed the Glendale train

And the people they did say

For 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

Ah, 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

They slept in Jesse’s bed

They laid poor Jesse in his grave

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

Now Jesse had a wife

Lived a lady all her life

Her children they were brave

Now history does record

That Bob and Charlie Ford

Have laid poor Jesse in his grave

Well the people held their breath

They heard of Jesse’s death

They wondered how he come to fall

Well it was Robert Ford in fact

Who shot him in the back

While he hung a picture on the wall

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

But history does record

That Bob and Charlie Ford

Have laid poor Jesse, laid poor Jesse

Have laid Jesse James in his grave