Jesse James Songtext
von Pete Seeger

Jesse James was a lad
He killed many a man
He robbed the Glendale train
He took from the rich
And he gave to the poor
He′d a hand and a heart and a brain

Oh, Jesse had a wife
To mourn for his life
Three children, they were brave
But that dirty little coward
That shot Mr. Howard
He laid poor Jesse in his grave

It was on a Saturday night
And the moon was shining bright
They robbed the Glendale train
With the agent on his knees
He delivered up the keys
To those outlaws, Frank and Jesse James


Oh, Jesse had a wife
To mourn for his life
Three children, they were brave
But that dirty little coward
That shot Mr. Howard
Has laid poor Jesse in his grave

Oh, the people held their breath
When they heard of Jesse's death
They wondered how he ever come to fall
Robert Ford, it was a fact
Shot Jesse in the back
While Jesse hung a picture on the wall

Oh, Jesse had a wife
To mourn for his life
Three children, they were brave
But that dirty little coward
That shot Mr. Howard
He laid poor Jesse in his grave

Oh, Jesse was a man
A friend to the poor
He′d never rob a mother or her child
He took from the rich
And he gave to the poor
Till they shot Jesse James on the sly


Oh, Jesse had a wife
To mourn for his life
Three children, they were brave
But that dirty little coward
That shot Mr. Howard
Has laid poor Jesse in his grave

Well, this song was made up
By Billy Gashade
As soon as the news did arrive
He said there was no man
With the law in his hand
Who could take Jesse James when alive

Oh, Jesse had a wife
To mourn for his life
Three children, they were brave
But that dirty little coward
That shot Mr. Howard
Has laid poor Jesse in his grave

Oh, Jesse had a wife
To mourn for his life
Three children, they were brave
But that dirty little coward
That shot Mr. Howard
Has laid poor Jesse in his grave