Lyrics:

(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