(Traditional, arranged by Ry Cooder)
Jesse James we understand
Has killed him many a man
He robbed the Union trains
But history does record
That Bob and Charlie Ford
Have laid Jesse James in his grave
It was on a Saturday night
The stars were shining bright
When they robbed that Union train
And it was one of the younger boys
That gathered in the spoils
And carried that money away
In his small home unaware
A-straightening pictures there
He thought he heard a noise
And as he turned his head
Well, the bullet killed him dead
Fired by Bob Ford, one of the boys
Poor Jesse had a wife
She lived a lady all her life
The children they were brave
But history does record
That Bob and Charlie Ford
Have laid poor Jesse, laid poor Jesse
Have laid Jesse James in his grave
Jesse James we understand
Has killed him many a man
He robbed the Union trains
But history does record
That Bob and Charlie Ford
Have laid Jesse James in his grave
It was on a Saturday night
The stars were shining bright
When they robbed that Union train
And it was one of the younger boys
That gathered in the spoils
And carried that money away
In his small home unaware
A-straightening pictures there
He thought he heard a noise
And as he turned his head
Well, the bullet killed him dead
Fired by Bob Ford, one of the boys
Poor Jesse had a wife
She lived a lady all her life
The children they were brave
But history does record
That Bob and Charlie Ford
Have laid poor Jesse, laid poor Jesse
Have laid Jesse James in his grave