They say James was a man
And he killed a man and then
He rode the Glendale train
And he took from the richer
And he gave that to the poorer
Gave a hand in a hurry, then up rail
Oh Jesse had a wife to mourn for his life
Three children they were so brave
But that dirty little coward
That and shot Mr. Howard
Has laid Jesse James in his grave
(Instrumental)
On Wednesday night
When the moon was shining bright
They rode 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
(Instrumental)
Well the people held their breath
When they heard about Jesse's death (yeah)
About how little Jesse came to die (how did he die?)
It was one of his guys, called Little Robert Ford
And he zapped 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