Here's my attempted transcription of the lyrics as sung by the Bogtrotters (Fields Ward, Crockett Ward, Eck Dunford) in their 1937 Library of Congress recording. Notably, Crockett learned his rendition of the song in 1896 in Smyth County Virginia by a man he identified as Freeling James, who had moved to Virginia after living in Missouri during 'the raids' in that area. Notably, the recording is similar (but not the same as) a recording from the Bogtrotters released on Folkways Bluegrass From the Blue Ridge: Country Band Music of Virginia. Unfortunately, the verses I'm least sure about were, naturally, not repeated in that rendition. I have marked that section with brackets ([[ and ]]). Transcription by ear from The Bogtrotters: 1937-1942, Biograph RC 6003 JESSE JAMES Jesse James was a man who had traveled through the land And he traveled on both night and day He was shot on the fly by little Robert Ford And they laid Jesse James in his grave Jesse James went to town not many days ago And the bank was opened for the thief The clerk got down upon his knees and he handed up the keys To Frank and his brother Jesse James Jesse James, Jesse James, there's no more of Jesse James Robbing the banks and trains He was shot on the fly in the twinkle of an eye And the legend of James never dies Jesse James had a wife, she lived a mourner all her life And the children were running 'round brave She mourned his loss [[as a loot giver too]] As a guerrilla in Missourah he was brave The boys in the West, when they heard of Jesse's death They wondered what caused him to die Was a cold pistol ball, brought him tumbling from the wall And they laid Jesse James in his grave Jesse James, Jesse James, there's no more of Jesse James Robbing the banks and trains He was shot on the fly by little Robert Ford And they laid Jesse James in his grave Frank James thought it best when he'd heard of Jesse's death To abide by the laws of the state He applied to Governor Crittenden* in a long written letter And explained the course he's going on to take Frank James is at ease in the state of Texas And at Denver he resides It's been many men called their presence for to be For the name has reached across the sea Jesse James, Jesse James, there's no more of Jesse James On the Richmond and Danville Trains He was shot on the fly by a little Robert Ford And they laid Jesse James in his grave * Pronounced more like "Gritten" but Crittendon is close enough and was indeed the governor of Missouri in 1882, the year of James' death.
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