Cowboys and outlaws and long shiny rails Was the background setting of grandpappy's tales Places like Tucson and old Santa Fe Cheyenne Wyomin' during Rodeo Days
I'd sit there for hours perched on his knees To ride just as far as his memory could see With Billy The Kid and the one Jesse James Rail ridin' outlaws that robbed lots of trains
Let me tell you a story 'bout Billy The Kid The one Jesse James and some things that we did I knew them well, son, just like my own name Billy and Jesse, me and we robbed trains
But a boy don't stay seven all of his life And he starts to wonder what's true and what's lies Still respect makes him listen to an old man's refrain Bout a wild bunch of cowboys and some make believe trains
Let me tell you a story 'bout Billy The Kid The one Jesse James and some things that we did I knew them well, son, just like my own name Billy and Jesse, me and we robbed trains
The funeral was family as funerals should be Except for two cowboys no one else could see And then they were gone just as quick as they came Billy and Jesse had robbed one more train
Let me tell you a story 'bout Billy The Kid The one Jesse James and some things that we did I knew them well, son, just like my own name Billy and Jesse, me and we robbed trains