Jesse James
Western Music
The Lone Writer  

Western Song: Jesse James

Jesse James is an American folk song in the 19th-century first recorded by Bentley Ball in 1919 and afterward by many others. Members of the Western Writers of America included it in their list of the Top 100 Western songs of all time.

About the Song

The song is about the outlaw of the same name. Its composer is not known, but it has been associated with the lyrics of some versions to a Billy Gashade or Billy LaShade although no historical record exists for anyone with either name. This song is famous in the bluegrass repertoire and is usually played as an instrumental, usually in the key of B.

The lyrics are mostly biographical containing many details from the life of Jesse, describing him as an American version of Robin Hood, even though there is no proof to indicate that he stole from the rich and gave to the poor. The song was the starting point of Jesse James’ panel of a mural on American folk songs by Thomas Hart Benton.

Popular Recordings

Many artists have covered the song. Some of the most popular versions were recorded by:

  • Bascom Lamar Lunsford
  • Vernon Dalhart
  • Woody Guthrie
  • Pete Seeger
  • The Kingston Trio
  • The Pogues
  • The Ramblin’ Riversiders
  • The Country Gentlemen
  • Willy DeVille
  • Van Morrison
  • Grandpa Jones
  • Bob Seger
  • The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
  • Carl Sandburg
  • Sons of the Pioneers
  • Johnny Cash
  • Liam Clancy
  • Mungo Jerry
  • Bruce Springsteen
  • Eddy Arnold
  • Jackson C. Frank

Film and Television Appearances

The song was heard and used in films and television shows such as:

  • American Western Film Jesse James
  • TV western series Lawman
  • 1980 American Western film The Long Riders
  • 2007 American epic revisionist Western film The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

Listen to Jesse James (Eddy Arnold Version)

Jesse James Lyrics

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
And 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
And 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

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
And 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 Jesse James 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
And laid Jesse James in his grave

Jesse went to rest with his hand on his breast
The devil 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
And laid Jesse James in his grave

And laid Jesse James in his grave

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