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
