Jesse James
Ramblin' Jack Elliot;Pete Seeger Lyrics
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He robbed the Danville train
He stole from the rich and he gave to the poor
He'd a hand, a heart, and a brain
Jesse was a man, a friend to the poor
He couldn't see a brother suffer pain
And with his brother Frank he robbed the Springfield bank
Poor Jesse had a wife, a lady all her life
And three children, they were so brave
But that dirty little coward that shot Mr. Howard
Has laid ol' Jesse James in his grave
It was Robert Ford, the dirty little coward
And I wonder how he feels
For he slept in Jesse's bed and he ate o' Jesse's bread
But he laid Jesse James in his grave
It was with his brother Frank that he robbed the Gallatin Bank
An' carried the money from the town
It was at that very place that they had a little chase
For they shot ol' Captain Sheets to the ground
Poor Jesse had a wife to morn for his life
And three children, they were so brave
But that dirty lettle coward that shot Mr. Joward
Has laid ol' Jesse James in his grave
They went to a crossing, not very far from there
And there they did the same
For the agent on his knees delivered up the keys
To the outlaws, Frank an' Jesse James
It was on a Wednesday night, not a star was in sight
When they robbed the Glendale train
Those people, they did say for many miles away
It was robbed by Frank an' Jesse James
Poor Jesse had a wife to mourn for his life
And three children, they were so brave
But that dirty lettle coward that shot Mr. Joward
Has laid ol' Jesse James in his grave
Then on a Saturday night, Jesse was at home
Just talking with his family brave
When Robert Ford came along like a thief in the night
And laid poor Jesse in his grave
Now, the people held their breath when they heard of Jesse's death
They wondered how he came to die
It was one of his own gang called little Robert Ford
An' he shot Jesse James on the sly
Poor Jesse had a wife who mourned for his life
And three children, they were so brave
But that dirty lettle coward that shot Mr. Joward
Has laid ol' Jesse James in his grave
Jesse went to his rest with his hand upon his breast
And there are many who never saw his face
He was born one day in the County of Clay
And he came from a solitary race
This song was made by Billy Gashade
As soon as the news did arrive
He said there's no one man with the law in his hand
Could ever take ol' Jesse James alive
Poor Jesse had a wife to mourn his life
An' his children too, they were brave
But that dirty little coward shot Mr. Howard
An' laid Jesse James in his grave
Oh, they laid poor Jesse in his grave, yes, Lord
They laid Jesse James in his grave
Oh, he took from the rich and he gave to the poor
But, they laid Jesse James in his grave
The song "Jesse James" tells the story of the infamous outlaw who robbed banks and trains, and gave to the poor. The lyrics depict Jesse as a man of the people, who couldn't stand to see someone suffer, and who had a heart and a brain. He had a wife and three children who were brave, but his life was cut short by the "dirty little coward" Robert Ford, who shot Jesse in the back in his own home. The song mourns Jesse's death and portrays him as a hero to the downtrodden, who took from the rich and fought against injustice.
The lyrics of "Jesse James" were written by Billy Gashade, who was a pseudonym for a songwriter named Billy Stafford. The song became popular in the late 1800s and early 1900s and has been covered by many artists, including Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, and Ramblin' Jack Elliot. The song is often sung with a fast-paced melody and is considered a classic of the folk music genre.
Line by Line Meaning
Jesse James was a lad that killed many a man
Jesse James was a man who had killed several people
He robbed the Danville train
He robbed a train in Danville
He stole from the rich and he gave to the poor
He took from the wealthy and gave to the less fortunate
He'd a hand, a heart, and a brain
He was a man with the qualities of kindness, courage, and intelligence
Jesse was a man, a friend to the poor
Jesse was a man who supported and helped the less fortunate
He couldn't see a brother suffer pain
He could not witness a fellow human being in agony
And with his brother Frank he robbed the Springfield bank
Jesse and Frank, his sibling, robbed the bank located in Springfield
And he stopped the Glendale train
Jesse James halted the train that was passing through Glendale
Poor Jesse had a wife, a lady all her life
Jesse James had a wife who was a respectable person throughout her life
And three children, they were so brave
Jesse James had three children who were exceptionally courageous
But that dirty little coward that shot Mr. Howard
A cowardly person named Mr. Howard shot Jesse James
Has laid ol' Jesse James in his grave
Jesse James is no longer alive and has been buried
It was Robert Ford, the dirty little coward
The person who shot Jesse James was Robert Ford, and he was a contemptible person
And I wonder how he feels
It is intriguing to think about Robert Ford's emotions
For he slept in Jesse's bed and he ate o' Jesse's bread
Robert Ford had once stayed in Jesse James' house and had his food
But he laid Jesse James in his grave
Robert Ford was responsible for the death of Jesse James
It was with his brother Frank that he robbed the Gallatin Bank
Jesse James, along with Frank, robbed the bank of Gallatin
An' carried the money from the town
After the robbery, they took the money and fled the town
It was at that very place that they had a little chase
They were chased right after the robbery at that location
For they shot ol' Captain Sheets to the ground
During the pursuit, they shot Captain Sheets and injured him
They went to a crossing, not very far from there
They reached a crossing that was not far away from the earlier event
And there they did the same
They repeated their actions (robbed a train) there as well
For the agent on his knees delivered up the keys
The agent of the train surrendered the keys while on his knees
To the outlaws, Frank an' Jesse James
Frank and Jesse James received the keys from the agent while robbing the train
It was on a Wednesday night, not a star was in sight
The train robbery took place on Wednesday night, and the sky was dark
When they robbed the Glendale train
They robbed the train passing through Glendale on that night
Those people, they did say for many miles away
People residing many miles away reported that the train had been robbed by Frank and Jesse James
It was robbed by Frank an' Jesse James
They were the ones responsible for robbing the train, according to the reports
Then on a Saturday night, Jesse was at home
Jesse James was at home on a Saturday night
Just talking with his family brave
He was conversing with his courageous family members
When Robert Ford came along like a thief in the night
Robert Ford arrived secretly, like a thief arrives at night
And laid poor Jesse in his grave
Robert Ford killed Jesse James
Now, the people held their breath when they heard of Jesse's death
When people heard about Jesse James' death, they were astounded and speechless
They wondered how he came to die
People were curious about the reason behind Jesse James' death
It was one of his own gang called little Robert Ford
One of Jesse James' gang members, little Robert Ford, killed him
An' he shot Jesse James on the sly
Robert Ford killed Jesse James secretly
Jesse went to his rest with his hand upon his breast
Jesse James died, keeping his hand on his chest
And there are many who never saw his face
Several people never got the chance to see Jesse James in person
He was born one day in the County of Clay
Jesse James was born in the County of Clay one day
And he came from a solitary race
Jesse James' family might have been the only ones belonging to their race
This song was made by Billy Gashade
This song was written by Billy Gashade
As soon as the news did arrive
Billy Gashade wrote this song after hearing the news of Jesse James' death
He said there's no one man with the law in his hand
Billy Gashade stated that no one person should have complete authority over the law
Could ever take ol' Jesse James alive
Jesse James could never have been captured without loss of life
An' his children too, they were brave
Jesse James' children were also very courageous
Oh, they laid poor Jesse in his grave, yes, Lord
Jesse James was buried after his death
They laid Jesse James in his grave
Jesse James was buried after his assassination
Oh, he took from the rich and he gave to the poor
Jesse James wanted everyone to have equal opportunities, so he took from the wealthy and gave to the poor
But, they laid Jesse James in his grave
Despite his good intentions, Jesse James was killed and buried
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: RY COODER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind