The Traditional Ballad Index has only one citation (Belden) for Jesse James VII. Here's the Ballad Index entry, and the Belden text.
-Joe Offer-
Jesse James (VII - "Jesse James Was a Bandit Bold")
DESCRIPTION: Jesse and Frank James come to town with ponies for sale. While there, they attend a ball, and have great success with the girls. The local men try to attack them, but Jesse and Frank out-fight them and escape to Mexico
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1909 (University Missourian)
KEYWORDS: outlaw dancing escape
FOUND IN: US(So)
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Belden, pp. 401-404, "Jesse James" (3 texts, of which only the second, called "A Missouri Ballad" in the original publication, is this song)
Roud #2242
Notes: This is item dE44 in Laws's Appendix II. - RBW
File: Beld419bGo to the Ballad Search form
Go to the Ballad Index InstructionsThe Ballad Index Copyright 2004 by Robert B. Waltz and David G. Engle.
Jesse James was a bandit bold,
He and his brother Frank;
'Twas in a town in Mexico
They played this daring prank.
They drove some ponies they wanted to trade
Across the greaser line,
And finished selling them one day
In June of 59.
There was a dance at the hall that trip
And the boys were feeling gay;
We'll load our derringers,' said Frank,
In case there comes a fray.'
All uninvited they reached the door
And tied their bronchs outside;
'We'll walk right in,' they said, 'to brave
Those all-fired greasers' pride.'
Each chose a senorita fair,
And when the dance began
They footed the waltz so well they were
The envy of each man.
And when the wine got in their heads,
As sure as pipe-smoke curls,
They made no bones about their lips
But kissed a few of the girls.
At that the jealous men sneaked out
With treacherous looks at Jess;
'What they want with us,' Frank said,
'A Texas steer could guess.'
Back came they with revolvers drawn
To shoot the lights all out;
But Jess and Frank got out their guns
And made them face about.
Back through the swarthy crowd they strode,
Bold Jesse and his pard;
'Untie the bronchs,' his comrade said,
'While I stand here on guard.'
Upon their mounts the heroes leaped,
To horse the greasers sprung;
'And if they take us,' Jesse said,
'They're sure to have us hung.'
But when they reached the Rio Grande
The James boys swam across;
The greasers stood upon the bank
Astounded at their loss.
'A Missouri Ballad.' Printed by Carl Brim in the University Missourian for 16 February, 1909, with the statement: 'It was recited to me by an old settler in a southern county who vouched for its authenticity, and stated that it was well known in some parts of Missouri and Texas.
source: Ballads and Songs Collected by the Missouri Folk-Lore Society (Belden)