Jesse James

by The Pogues

From the album: Rum Sodomy & the Lash

Track 9 of 13 on Rum Sodomy & the Lash (1985).

Duration: 02:59

Rum Sodomy & the Lash cover art

Lyrics for Jesse James

Jesse James, we understand Has killed many a man He robbed the Union trains He stole from the rich He gave to the poor He'd a hand and a heart And a brain Well, it was on Saturday night The stars were shining bright They robbed the Glendale train And the people they did say For many miles away It was those outlaws Frank and Jesse James Now Jesse had a wife Lived a lady all her life And children they were brave But history does record That Bob and Charlie Ford Have laid poor Jesse in his grave Well, it was Bob and Charlie Ford Those dirty little cowards I wonder how they feel For they ate of Jesse's bread And they slept in Jesse's bed And they laid poor Jesse in his grave Now Jesse had a wife Lived a lady all her life And children they were brave But history does record That Bob and Charlie Ford Have laid poor Jesse in his grave Now Jesse had a wife Lived a lady all her life And children they were brave But history does record That Bob and Charlie Ford Have laid poor Jesse in his grave Well, the people held their breath When they heard of Jesse's death They wondered how he came to fall Well it was Robert Ford in fact Who shot him in the back While he hung a picture on the wall Now Jesse had a wife Lived a lady all her life And children they were brave But history does record That Bob and Charlie Ford Have laid poor Jesse in his grave But history does record That Bob and Charlie Ford Have laid poor Jesse Laid poor Jesse Have laid Jesse James in his grave

Listen On

More from Rum Sodomy & the Lash

  1. The Sick Bed of Cuchulainn
  2. The Old Main Drag
  3. Wild Cats of Kilkenny
  4. I'm a Man You Don't Meet Every Day
  5. A Pair of Brown Eyes
  6. Sally MacLennane
  7. A Pistol for Paddy Garcia
  8. Dirty Old Town
  9. Jesse James
  10. Navigator
  11. Billy's Bones
  12. The Gentleman Soldier
  13. And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda