Classic Poem

Jesse James was a lad that killed many a man,
He robbed the Danville train;
But that dirty little coward that shot Mr. Howard,
Has laid Jesse James in his grave.
It was little Robert Ford, that dirty little coward;
I wonder how does he feel;
For he ate of Jesse's bread and slept in Jesse's bed,
Then laid Jesse James in his grave.

Poor Jesse had a wife, to mourn for his life,
Children they were brave;
But that dirty little coward, that shot Mr. Howard
Has laid Jesse James in his grave.

It was with his brother Frank, he robbed the Gallatin bank,
And carried the money from the town;
It was at this very place they had a little chase,
For they shot Capt. Sheets to the ground.
They went to a crossing not very far from there,
And there they did the same,
With the agent on his knees he delivered up the keys
To the outlaws Frank and Jesse James.

It was on a Wednesday night, the moon was shining bright,
They robbed the Danville train;
The people they did say for many miles away,
It was robbed by Frank and Jesse James.
It was on Saturday night, the moon was shining bright,
Talking with his family brave,
Robert Ford came along like a thief in the night,
And he laid Jesse James in his grave.

The people held their breath when they heard of Jesse's death,
And wondered however he came to die.
It was one of the gang called little Robert Ford,
He shot Jesse James on the sly.
This song was made by Billy LaShade,
As soon as the news did arrive;
He said there's no man with the law in his hand
Can take Jesse James alive.