The Ballad of Jessie James 1949

"The Ballad of Jessie James"
From the 1949 movie "I Shot Jessie James"
In this scene a traveling minstrel is playing his guitar for drinks and unknown to him, starts singing the "Ballad of Jessie James" to Robert Ford

Jesse James was a lad that killed many a man
He robbed the Glendale train
He took from the rich and gave to the poor
He had a heart, a hand, and a brain

Young Jesse had a wife who mourned for his life
Three children, they were brave
But the dirty little coward that shot Mr Howard
Has laid Jesse dead in his grave

It was Robert Ford, the dirty little coward
Wonder how he feels
He ate of Jessie's bread and slept in Jessie's bed
Then he laid Jesse dead in his grave

Jesse James sat at home on a Saturday night
Talking to his family brave
Robert Ford came around like a thief in the night
And laid Jesse dead in his grave

No man you ever saw on the side of the law
Could take Jessie dead or alive
Twas his friend Robert Ford who collected that reward
By shooting Jessie James on the sly

Young Jesse had a wife who mourned for his life
Three children, they were brave
But the dirty little coward that shot Mr Howard
Has laid Jesse dead in his grave