Jesse James was a man
   And he killed many men
   He robbed the Glendale train
   And he took from the richer
   And he gave that to the poorer
   He'd a hand and a heart and a brain
  
   Oh Jesse had a wife to mourn for his life
   Three children they were so brave
   But that dirty little coward
   That shot Mr. Howard
   Has laid Jesse James in his grave
  
   On Wednesday night
   When the moon was shining bright
   They robbed that Glendale train
   And the folks from miles about (yeah they can)
   They all said without a doubt
   It was done by her Frankie and Jesse James (yes it was)
  
   Oh Jessie had a wife, to mourn for his life
   Three children they were so brave
   But that dirty little coward
   That shot Mr. Howard
   Has laid (poor) Jesse James in his grave
  
   Well the people held their breath
   When they heard about Jesse's death (yeah)
   And they wondered how poor Jesse came to die (how did he die?)
   It was one of his guys, called Little Robert Ford
   And he shot Jessie James on the sly
  
   Oh Jessie had a wife to mourn for his life
   Three children they were so brave
   But that dirty little coward
   That shot Mr. Howard
   Has laid Jesse James in his grave
   Has laid poor Jesse in his grave
   He laid Jesse James in his grave