THE STORY OF JESSE JAMES
(Bob Davie / Irwin M. Schuster / Joe Csida)

Jamie Coe


SPOKEN:
In Eighteen-Eighty-Two, Jesse James left his Gang
And changed his name to Tom Howard (Tom Howard)
This is the story of what happened after that.....

SUNG:
Jesse James was a lad who grew up pretty bad
Yes, he robbed and he killed many men
Till he found a sweet Wife and began a brand new life
And he swore he'd never hold a gun again

Yes, Jesse had a Wife to grieve for his life
Three children trying hard to be brave
But that dirty, little coward that shot Mister Howard
He laid poor Jesse in his grave

Jesse James turned at last from the evil of his past
Settled down with a true love on a farm
Raised his kids, raised his corn, went to church each Sunday morn
And he never did another fellah harm

Yes, Jesse had a Wife to grieve for his life
Three children trying hard to be brave
But that dirty, little coward that shot Mister Howard
He laid poor Jesse in his grave

Then one day at Jesse's door, there appeared a Robert Ford
An old friend who knew the price on Jesse's head
Now in courage Ford did lack, he shot Jesse in the back
And Jesse James rolled over, cold and dead

Yes, Jesse had a Wife to grieve for his life
Three children trying hard to be brave
But that dirty, little coward that shot Mister Howard
He laid poor Jesse, laid poor Jesse, laid poor Jesse in his grave


(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - April 2007)












(Contributed by  - April 2007)