Album: Thereby Hangs a Tale [RCA Victor]
(Traditional)
It was on a Wednesday night the moon was shining bright
They robbed the Glendale train
And the people they did say for many miles away
Twas the outlaws Frank and Jesse James.
Jesse had a wife to mourn all her life
Their children they are brave
Twas a dirty little coward that shot Mr. Howard
They laid Jesse James in his grave.
It was Robert Ford the dirty little coward
I wonder how he does feel
For he ate of Jesse's bread and he slept in Jesse's bed
Then he laid Jesse James in his grave.
Jesse had a wife to mourn all her life
Their children they are brave
Twas a dirty little coward that shot Mr. Howard
They laid Jesse James in his grave.
It was his brother Frank that robbed the Gallatin bank
And carried the money from the town
It was in this very place that they had a little race
For they shot Captain Sheets to the ground.
Jesse was a man a friend to the poor
He never would see a man suffer pain
And with his brother Frank he robbed the Chicago bank
And stopped the Glendale train.
It was his brother Frank that robbed the Gallatin bank
And carried the money from the town
It was in this very place that they had a little race
For they shot Captain Sheets to the ground.
Jesse had a wife to mourn all her life
Their children they are brave
Twas a dirty little coward that shot Mr. Howard
They laid Jesse James in his grave.
They went to the crossing not very far from there
And there they did the same
And the agent on his knees he delivered up the keys
To the outlaws Frank and Jesse James.
Jesse had a wife to mourn all her life
Their children they are brave
Twas a dirty little coward that shot Mr. Howard
They laid Jesse James in his grave.
It was on a Saturday night Jesse was at home
Talking to his family brave
When the thief and the coward a little Robert Ford
Laid Jesse James in his grave.
How people held their breath when they heard of Jesse's death
And wondered how he ever came to die
Twas one of the gang dirty Robert Ford
That shot poor Jesse on the sly.
Jesse had a wife to mourn all her life
Their children they are brave
Twas a dirty little coward that shot Mr. Howard
They laid Jesse James in his grave.
Jesse went to rest with his hand on his breast
The devill will be upon his knee
He was born one day in the county of Clay
And came from the solitary race.
Jesse had a wife to mourn all her life
Their children they are brave
Twas a dirty little coward that shot Mr. Howard
They laid Jesse James in his grave.
They laid Jesse James in his grave...