Frank and Jesse James
by Warren Zevon
From the album: Stand in the Fire
Track 13 of 14 on Stand in the Fire (1980).
Duration: 4:27
Lyrics for Frank and Jesse James
Written By Warren Zevon Published by Warner-Tamerlane/Darkroom Music BMI, 1973 On a small Missouri farm Back when the west was young Two boys learned to rope and ride And be handy with a gun War broke out between the states And they joined up with Quantrill And it was over in Clay county That Frank and Jesse finally learned to kill Keep on riding, riding, riding Frank and Jesse James Keep on riding, riding, riding 'Til you clear your names Keep on riding, riding, riding Across the rivers and the range Keep on riding, riding, riding Frank and Jesse James After Appomattox they were on the loosing side So no amnesty was granted And as outlaws they did ride They rode against the railroads, And they rode against the banks And they rode against the governor Never did they ask for a word of thanks Keep on riding, riding, riding Frank and Jesse James Keep on riding, riding, riding 'Til you clear your names Keep on riding, riding, riding Across the prairies and the plains Keep on riding, riding, riding Frank and Jesse James Robert Ford, a gunman Did exchange for his parole Took the life of James the outlaw Which he snuck up on and stole No one knows just where they came to be misunderstood But the poor Missouri farmers knew Frank and Jesse do the best they could Keep on riding, riding, riding Frank and Jesse James Keep on riding, riding, riding 'Til you clear your names Keep on riding, riding, riding Across the rivers and the range Keep on riding, riding, riding Frank and Jesse James