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Subject: RE: Origins: Jesse James I From: Goose Gander Date: 20 Mar 07 - 02:56 PM "A bit of trivia: Do any of you know the real reason Jesse decided to take the gang all the way to Northfield, MN on what proved to be their last robbery/raid?" OK, lay it on us - why did Jesse and the gang go all the way up to Northfield, MN? |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Jesse James I From: GUEST,meself Date: 11 Mar 07 - 11:52 AM So, 12-stringer - we're to assume that you're a Greenberry descendant? |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Jesse James I From: SouthernCelt Date: 11 Mar 07 - 10:51 AM I think there have been as many "folk" songs about Jesse as there have movies that supposedly told the true story of his career. Of the movies, I think the best was "Long Riders" by far since it was a bit more factual than most of the others. (Had some dang good music in it too, gave it a folky flavor.) Although Jesse and rest aren't mentioned in the song (no names are), listen to Jed Marum's "Bloody Friday" about the Lawrence raid sometime. Jed gives a bit of insight of why the Confederate guerillas so hated the Northern-sympathizing, Unionist Jayhawkers. A bit of trivia: Do any of you know the real reason Jesse decided to take the gang all the way to Northfield, MN on what proved to be their last robbery/raid? I'll give other 'Catters a few days to speculate before I give the answer or confirm what anyone else posts. SC |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Jesse James I From: 12-stringer Date: 11 Mar 07 - 03:41 AM Somebody commented upthread that black music took little notice of JJ. One exception of course is Leadbelly's "When I was a Cowboy." Another in Blind Lemon's "One Dime Blues": Do you want your friend to be bad like Jesse James? (x3) Get two big pistols, highway some passenger train. On their mother's side, Jesse and Frank were descendants of Colonel Nicholas Greenberry (c1627-1698) of Anne Arundel Co, MD. It was said of Greenberry by a political adversary that he had been "a highwayman in England" before emigrating to MD in the early 1670s. Possibly it's genetic, though relatively few of the Greenberry descendants have been known to get two big pistols and highway any passenger trains. At least, I never felt the urge, but the passenger trains stopped running here quite a few years ago. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: JESSE JAMES (Harry McClintock) From: Jim Dixon Date: 11 Mar 07 - 01:21 AM I copied these lyrics form Norm Cohen's book, "Long Steel Rail: The Railroad in American Folksong." There, this version is attributed to Harry "Haywire Mac" McClintock. JESSE JAMES 1. How the people held their breath when they heard of Jesse's death, Wondered how he came to die. For the big reward, little Robert Ford Shot Jesse James on the sly. It was Robert Ford, that dirty little coward, I wonder how he does feel; For he ate Jesse's bread and he slept in Jesse's bed And he laid Jesse James in his grave. CHORUS 1: Jesse leaves a wife that'll moan [or "mourn"?] all her life. The children that the left will pray; For Bob Ford, the coward, that shot Mr. Howard That laid Jesse James in his grave. 2. Jesse was a man, a friend to the poor. He'd never see a man suffer pain; But with his brother Frank, he robbed the Springfield bank, And stopped the Glendale train. It was his brother Frank that robbed the Gallatin bank And carried the money from the town. It was in this very place they had a little chase And they shot Captain Sheets to the ground. CHORUS 1. 3. They went to the crossin' not very far from there, And there they did the same; For the agent on his knees delivered up the keys To the outlaws, Frank and Jesse James. 'Twas on a Saturday night, and Jesse was at home, Talkin' with his family brave. Bob Ford came along like a thief in the night And laid Jesse James in his grave. CHORUS 2: Oh, they laid poor Jesse in his grave, yes, Lord, They laid Jesse James in his grave. Oh, he took from the rich and he gave it to the poor, But they laid Jesse James in his grave. 4. Jesse went to his rest with his hand on his breast. The devil will be upon his knee. He was born one day in the county of Clay, And came from a solitary race. Now men, when you go out into the West, Never be afraid to die. They had the law in their hands, but they didn't have the sand To take Jesse James alive. CHORUS 1, CHORUS 2. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: JESSE JAMES (from Loye Pack) From: Goose Gander Date: 17 Oct 06 - 11:15 PM Here's another version, this time from Loye Pack . . . . JESSE JAMES Last Saturday night The moon was shining bright He robbed the Otterville train He was a dirty little coward Who shot Mr. Howard And he laid Jesse James in his grave Jesse had a wife Who mourned for his life His children they were brave He was a dirty little coward Who shot Mr. Howard And he laid Jesse James in his grave 'Twas Saturday night The moon was shining bright He robbed the Denver train He was a dirty little coward Who shot Mr. Howard And he laid Jesse James in his grave They went to the depot It wasn't very far The agent for to see He fell upon his knees And delivered up the keys To Frank and Jesse James This very song was made By Billy Mosha No sooner than the news arrived They say there was no man With the law in his hand Could take Jesse James alive Little Robert Ford He was one of the gang How his heart did crave He ate of Jesse's bread And slept on Jesse's bed And he laid Jesse James in his grave Jesse drew his belt You bet he never felt That his enemy was so nigh But little Robert Ford He did spy And Jesse came tumbling from the chair The ladies held their breath When they heard of Jesse's death They wondered how he came to die He was shot upon the sly By little Robert Ford And they laid Jesse James in his grave Source: Old Time Songs, Compiled by Loye Pack (n.d., probably mid-1930s), p. 52-53). From Mountaineer Jamboree by Ivan Tribe (Lexington, Kentucky: University Press of Kentucky, 1984): "Born Loye Donald Pack in Nashville, Tennessee, on June 3, 1900, the Cowboy apparently wandered around somewhat in his early adulthood and spent several years working on a ranch in Nebraska. He entered radio in January 1929, played in Columbus, Ohio, for a time, and began his career at WWVA on November 11, 1933" (p. 45). Cowboy Loye apparently never recorded, his career cut short by his early death in 1941 due to a kidney ailment (ibid., p. 46). |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Jesse James I From: GUEST,thurg Date: 03 May 06 - 12:49 AM Happened to be talking to me big brudder about this song (Jesse James was a lad ... ) this evening, before I stumbled onto this thread. He said that Billy Gashade was a black convict in a Texas pen when he wrote the song - don't know where my brother got that, but it's not the sort of thing he'd be saying without some sort of "reliable source". Anyone know the song with the refrain "Somebody robbed the Glendale train"? Recorded by the Red Clay Ramblers or some band of that ilk. Tells the story from the point of view of the local community. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: JESSE JAMES (from Norm Cohen) From: Goose Gander Date: 02 May 06 - 08:42 PM This may be the earliest version, printed by Norm Cohen in Long Steel Rail which is a wonderful book well worth purchasing. JESSE JAMES Jesse James was a lad that killed many a man, He robbed the Danville train; But that dirty little coward that shot at Mr. Howard Has laid Jesse James in his grave. It was Robert Ford, that dirty little coward; I wonder how he does feel; For he ate 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 at 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 the 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 how he came to die. It was one of the gang called little Robert Ford, He shot Jesse James on the sly. This song was written 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. "Until recently, the earliest known printing of 'Jesse James' was a broadside printed by New York publisher Henry J. Wehman (no. 1044). Though undated, it can be placed between 1888 and 1897 on the basis of Wehman's address given on the sheet. It has been reproduced by Finger (1927) and by Thede and Preece. In 1977, Guthrie T. Meade came across an 1887 pocket songster in the Library of Congress, Comic and Sentimental Songs; one of the texts, as sung by Robert Jones, is 'Jesse James'. Jones, born blind in east Tennessee, made his living after the age of fifteen by singing and playing the fiddle . . . . While this version the authorship is attributed to LaShade, rather than Gashade, I am uneasy about building any hypotheses on this slender foundation." Norm Cohen, Long Steel Rail (Urbana and Chicago: University of Illinois Press, 1981), 103-104. |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Jesse James I From: Lighter Date: 15 Aug 05 - 07:35 PM Charles J. Finger's "Frontier Ballads" (1927) reproduces an 1880s broadside of the "classic" (Sandburg) version of "Jesse James." It's easy to believe that this text, or one close to it, was the ultimate source of field-collected variants. |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Jesse James I From: GUEST,The Old Mole Date: 15 Aug 05 - 04:29 AM Frank James was a socialist, who vowed to take up arms in the coming war between capital and labor. |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Jesse James I From: robomatic Date: 15 Aug 05 - 03:40 AM Very nice book by Ron Hanson: "The Assassination of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford" tells a lot from Ford's point of view. Very nice little scene where Ford first hears the Gashade song at a minstrel show. Includes the death of Ford in Creede CO at the instigation of Soapy Smith, who was a real character and moved on to Scagway Alaska not long thereafter. Also recommend the Zevon Song from one of his earlier albums: On a small Missouri Farm, back when the West was young, Two boys learned to rope and ride, be handy with a gun, The war broke out between the States and they joined up with Quantrill It was over in Clay County that Frank and Jesse finally learned to kill. |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Jesse James I From: GUEST,Art Thieme Date: 07 Aug 05 - 02:18 PM I must add that I always introduced this song saying that it was a piece of histoy, and that every war has it's good reasons for people not wanting to back/fight it. Also, I'd intimate that there are wars that need to be fought, and if the listeners doubted that, I'd suggest they read "The Lord Of The Rings." *small joke-but truth too* (A modicum of ironic humor was always a good way to intro a serious topic I always thought.) This was a part of a medley of anti-war songs and pro-war songs. And it all ended with instrumental fingerpicked versions of "Meadowlands" and "Stars And Stripes Forever"---culminating with the first verse of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" Art Thieme |
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Subject: Lyr Add: BALLAD OF OCTOBER 16 (Almanac Singers) From: GUEST,Art Thieme Date: 07 Aug 05 - 11:38 AM And then there was.. (I sang this until the Viet Nam War ended.) It was on a Saturday night, The moon was shining bright, That they passed the *conscription bill (* the draft) And the people all did say from many miles away, It was the president And his boys on capital Hill. CHORUS) Yes, Franklin Roosevelt Told the people how he felt, We damned near believed what he said, "I hate war and so does Eleanor, But we won't be safe 'til everybody's dead." I was standin by his side When my poor old father died, And I swore to war I'd never go, Now I'm eating army beans, And I'm wearing army jeans, And I'm told that J. P. Morgan loves me so. Well, I've been all around this land, An honest working man, No clothes to wear and not much food to eat, Now the government foots the bill, Buys me clothes and feeds me swill, Gets me shot and puts me underground six feet! (from the Almanac Singers) Art Thieme |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Jesse James I From: GUEST,BILL LYONS Lchantyman@aol.com Date: 06 Aug 05 - 04:16 PM Regarding the Jesse James version subtitled, "I Wonder Where My Poor Old Jesse's Gone", Paul Clayton told me that he collected this version from Bascom Lamar Lunsford. Paul taught Lunsford the chorus that Clayton, himself, had written. I knew Paul Clayton in the sixties and have sung many of his songs myself, including his version of "Jesse James". |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Jesse James I From: Wolfgang Date: 04 Aug 04 - 07:48 AM most probably based upon JJI. I learned it 40 years ago. Wolfgang JESSE JAMES Und der Glendale Express, der stoppte im Wald, der Chef gab kein Pardon, Jesse James schoss ein Loch allen Snobs in den Bauch und im Westen kennt jeder den Song: Ch: Wer fragt nach Jesse James, sein Weib blieb allein, drei Kinder wer's vergaß. Es war Samstag als der Schuft kam und Jesse auf's Korn nahme und Jesse, der Chef, biss in das Gras. Für die Armen im Dreck brach Jesse die Bank, Chicago, nachts um vier, trug das Geld aus der Stadt, denn er sah es nicht ein, dieses Elend im Armenquartier. Robbie Ford hieß der Schuft, der feigste im Land (or: der Gang), die Zeitung schrie es aus, wie ein Dieb in der Nacht tat er's schnöde für Geld, denn er wusste den Jesse zu Haus. |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Jesse James I From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 03 Aug 04 - 11:37 AM Jesse has not received much attention from black Americans. Odum found only one song which was "in any way complete." FRANK AND JESSE JAMES O mother, I'm dreaming; O mother I'm dreaming, O mother I'm dreaming 'bout Frank an' Jesse James. Jesse James had a wife, she mourned all her life, Jesse James children cried for bread. Went up on the wall, thought I heard a call, Thought I heard a call 'bout Frank an' Jesse James. H. W. Odum and Guy B. Johnson, 1925 (1968 reprint), "The Negro and His Songs," pp. 209-210, Negro Universities Press. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: JESSE JAMES (from Carl Sandburg) From: Joe Offer Date: 03 Aug 04 - 02:18 AM This is the first version of Jesse I in Sandburg's American Songbag. I gather it's the primary source for I Wonder Where My Poor Old Jesse's Gone, since the two songs share so many verses. -Joe Offer- Jesse James It was on a Wednesday night, the moon was shining bright, They robbed the Glendale train. And the people they did say, for many miles away, 'Twas the outlaws Frank and Jesse James. CHORUS Jesse had a wife to mourn all her life, The children they are brave. 'Twas a dirty little coward shot Mister Howard, And laid Jesse James in his grave. It was Robert Ford, the dirty little coward, I wonder how he does feel, For he ate of Jesse's bread and he slept in Jesse's bed, Then he laid Jesse James in his grave. It was his brother Frank that robbed the Gallatin bank, And carried the money from the town. It was in this very place that they had a little race, For they shot Captain Sheets to the ground. They went to the crossing not very far from there, And there they did the same; And the agent on his knees he delivered up the keys To the outlaws Frank and Jesse James. It was on a Saturday night, Jesse was at home Talking to his family brave, When the thief and the coward, little Robert Ford, Laid Jesse James in his grave. How people held their breath when they heard of Jesse's death, And wondered how he ever came to die. 'Twas one of the gang, dirty Robert Ford, That shot Jesse James on the sly.— Jesse went to his rest with his hand on his breast. The devil will be upon his knee. He was born one day in the county of Clay, And came from a solitary race. |
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Subject: ADD: I Went Down to the Depot (Jesse James I) From: Joe Offer Date: 03 Aug 04 - 01:55 AM I guess I would call Woody Guthrie's Jesus Christ a non-humorous parody of this song, depending on how one defines "parody." "Jesus Christ" is in Rise Up Singing, but not "Jesse." As the Ballad Index entry says above, Carl Sandburg's American Songbag has two versions of Jesse I. This one is "heavily folk-processed." Sandburg says this is the "negro version of the Jesse James ballad, as heard by Charles Rockwood in work gangs of the south. I Went down to the Depot I went down to the depot, not many nights ago, And there I done something I never done before. I got down on my knees And delivered up the keys To Frank and his brother Jesse James. Po' Jesse James, po' Jesse James, I'll never see my Jesse any more; 'Twas a dirty little coward He shot Mister Howard An' laid Jesse James in his grave. Jesse James was a man and he had a robber band: And he flagged down the east bound train. Robert Ford watched his eye, And he shot him on the sly, And they laid Jesse James in his grave. Po' Jesse James, po' Jesse James I'll never see my Jesse any more. 'Twas a dirty little coward That shot Mister Howard And laid Jesse James in his grave. Jesse James' little wife was a moaner all her life When they laid Jesse James in his grave. She earned her daily bread By her needle and her thread When they laid Jesse James in his grave. Po' Jesse James, po' Jesse James, I'll never see my Jesse any more. Robert Ford's pistol ball Brought him tumbling from the wall And laid Jesse James in his grave. |
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Subject: RE: Jesse James I From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 03 Aug 04 - 12:38 AM Jessee James I was sung by these two better known western singers: Jules Verne Allen, in "Cowboy Lore, 1935, pp. 76-79, with music. Margaret Larkin, 1931, 1963, "Singing Cowboy, pp. 154-157, with music and rudimentary chords. According to her, Ford shot Jesse through an uncurtained window. Some verses differ from the standard. The 555 Fake Song Book has the parody version by Shane, Reynolds and Stewart, in which "When his best friend died, he was right there by her side, And he lifted off her golden wedding ring." (Posted somewhere in Mudcat by a scalawag) Strangely, not in Sing Out's "Rise Up Singing." |
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Subject: RE: Jesse James I From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 02 Aug 04 - 11:20 PM Apparently version I was first reported by Laws in 1906. The same version was published, with 4/4 music, in 1910 in John A.Lomax, 1910, 1919, "Cowboy Songs," p. 29-31, without comment. It was reprinted in Lomax and Lomax, 1938, "Cowboy Songs and Other Frontier Ballads," with only one remark: "The last stanza [mentioning Billy Gashade] was made by a Missouri Negro." Several websites try to explain 'Gashade,' one saying he was a newspaperman, another an itinerant singer, but nothing substantive. In Alan Lomax, 1960, "The Folk Songs of North America," No. 183 Jesse James I appears as "sung by B. L. Lunsford [music and chords given], L. C. Record 97B1, collected by A. Moser." Lomax remarks that the "Song was composed immediately after James was shot, 1882." No support is given for this statement. This is Text A in Fife and Fife, 1969, Cowboy and Western Songs, with music and chords, pp. 254-256; text A from Gordon, 433; melody A from King 847, Grandpa Jones (listened to a sound clip, doesn't sound like the right version. Date?). |
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Subject: ADD: Jesse James VII (Belden) From: Joe Offer Date: 02 Aug 04 - 09:37 PM 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 MexicoAUTHOR: 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: Beld419b Go to the Ballad Search form The 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) |
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Subject: RE: Jesse James From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 02 Aug 04 - 08:58 PM Joe, I posted one to your II, but I'll stop until you get the system organized and a 'nucleus' ballad for each thread. I am only complicating things by posting now.
-Joe Offer- |
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Subject: RE: Jesse James From: SINSULL Date: 02 Aug 04 - 07:19 PM Jesse robbed from the poor And gave to the rich He never did a friendly thing And when his best friend died He was right there by her side And he lifted off her golden wedding ring. Wish I could remember the LP that came from. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: JESSE JAMES From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 02 Aug 04 - 06:33 PM Here is another Missouri version, sung by May Kennedy McCord, 1939. Her guitar chords are given with the music. Lyr. Add: JESSE JAMES (V) Jesse James he was a man Who was known throughout the land, For Jesse he was bold and bad and brave; But the dirty little coward that shot Mister Howard Went and laid poor Jesse in his grave. It was on a Friday night, The moon was shining bright, Robert Ford had been hiding in a cave; He did eat of Jesse's bread And he slept in Jesse's bed. But he went and laid poor Jesse in his grave. Refrain: Jesse had a wife to mourn him all her life. The children they were brave; But the dirty little coward That murdered Mister Howard Went and laid poor Jesse in his grave. It was Jesse's brother Frank That robbed the Gallatin bank And carried the money from the town; It was in that very place That they held a mighty race And shot Captain Sheeks to the ground. Then they went to the station Not very far from there, And there Frank and Jesse did the same, And the agent on his knees Delivered up the keys To the outlaws Frank and Jesse James. How the people held their breath When they heard of Jesse's death And wondered how he ever came to die; But it was the sneaking coward, The dirty Robert Ford That shot Jesse on the sly. Jesse went to rest With his hands upon his breast, The devil he will look him in the face; He was born one stormy day In the County of old Clay And came from a solitary race. Wm. Owens said he found several versions and 'half a dozen" tunes. he tells a story on himself: "I was so filled with hero-worship that when one of my teachers called Jesse james a highway robber and thief in class one day, I stood up to protest and finally marched out of the schoolroom in anger. I might add that most of the other children in school were also of my opinion." (The teacher must have been a new recruit from the north; no local teacher would have expressed such an opinion at that time (1915-1930)). William A. and Jessie Ann Owens, 1976 (2nd. rev. ed.), Texas Folk Songs, pp. 78-80, with music. SMU Press, Dallas. |
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Subject: RE: Jesse James From: Scoville Date: 02 Aug 04 - 06:27 PM I grew up with the Golden Ring version, an extended "variation" of which was also recorded by Barton and Para. My family has spent a fair amount of time traveling between northern Iowa and southern Texas through Missouri and has taken the time to see a lot of James-related sites (his houses, the Gallatin Bank [now a TrueValue Hardware], etc) for amusement, although our general opinion is that they were mostly angry thugs. I don't mean that they didn't suffer at the hands of the Pinkertons or in general during the war, but a lot of families did and didn't turn out like that. Ford was shot to death in his tent saloon in Creede, Colorado, in 1892 by man named Edward O. Kelley (sometimes O'Kelly, although I think I read somewhere that the "O" was more properly a middle initial), who was a "James associate", whatever that means. Or at least a fan. |
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Subject: I Wonder Where My Poor Old Jesse's Gone From: Joe Offer Date: 02 Aug 04 - 06:12 PM The Traditional Ballad Index has entries for seven Jesse James songs. Here's the entry for I Wonder Where My Poor Old Jesse's Gone, filename[ JESSJAM1 in the Digital Tradition. Jesse James (VI -- "I Wonder Where My Poor Old Jesse's Gone")DESCRIPTION: Jesse James song recognized by the chorus, "Oh I wonder where my poor old Jesse's gone... I will meet him in that land where I've never been before." Jesse is killed by Robert Ford; his life is recalledAUTHOR: unknown EARLIEST DATE: 1963 (The Golden Ring) KEYWORDS: outlaw death betrayal HISTORICAL REFERENCES: Apr 4, 1882 - Shooting of Jesse James (then in semi-retirement under the name of Howard) by Robert Ford, a relative and a former member of his gang tempted by the $10,000 reward FOUND IN: REFERENCES (2 citations): Darling-NAS (New American Songster), pp. 187-188, "Jesse James" (1 text) DT, JESSJAM1 CROSS-REFERENCES: cf. "Jesse James (I)" [Laws E1] and references there Notes: I don't know if this version is actually traditional; the Golden Ring text is collated, and I believe someone (Mitchell Trio?) attributed it to Paul Clayton. I've never seen a pure dyed-in-the-wool text from tradition. - RBW File: DarNS188 Go to the Ballad Search form The Ballad Index Copyright 2004 by Robert B. Waltz and David G. Engle. The Digital Tradition text is almost identical with that found in Darling's New american Songster (1992). Here's what darling says:
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Subject: ADD Version: Jesse James (Belden #A) From: Joe Offer Date: 02 Aug 04 - 05:54 PM Here is the entry from the Traditional Ballad Index, the first of seven Jesse James songs covered by the Ballad Index: Jesse James (I) [Laws E1]DESCRIPTION: Jesse James's career is briefly described, with praise given to his (alleged) acts of charity. The story of James's murder is then told, focusing on the treachery of Robert Ford, "the dirty little coward that shot 'Mister Howard.'"AUTHOR: unknown (many versions claim to be written by Billy Gashade) EARLIEST DATE: 1906 (Belden) KEYWORDS: outlaw death HISTORICAL REFERENCES: Apr 4, 1882 - Shooting of Jesse James (then in semi-retirement under the name of Howard) by Robert Ford, a relative and a former member of his gang tempted by the $10,000 reward FOUND IN: US(Ap,MA,MW,So,SE) REFERENCES (24 citations): Laws E1, Jesse James (I) Belden, pp. 401-404, "Jesse James" (3 texts, of which only the first is this song) Randolph 132, "Jesse James" (6 texts plus an excerpt, 6 tunes, but Laws refers the B version to Laws E2; the excerpt "C" may also go there) Randolph/Cohen, pp. 146-148, "Jesse James" (1 text, 1 tune -- Randolph's 132F) BrownII 243, "Jesse James" (4 texts plus 3 excerpts and mention of 3 more; of these, the "A" and "B" texts are certainly this, and probably "G" also though it has wandered far; "I" is "Jesse James (II)") Chappell-FSRA 112, "Jesse James" (1 fragment, placed here by Laws although it's not typical of the type) Hudson 99, pp. 235-237, "Jesse James" (2 texts plus a fragment and mention of 3 more; the "B" text and "C" fragment are Laws E1; the "A" text is Laws E2) Gardner/Chickering 139, "Jesse James" (1 short text without a chorus plus mention of 1 more, 1 tune) Leach, pp. 753-755, "Jesse James" (3 texts) Friedman, p. 377, "Jesse James" (2 texts, but only the first is this ballad; Laws lists the second as Jesse James III, dE44) Sandburg, pp. 374-375, "I Went Down to the Depot" (1 text, 1 tune, heavily folk processed); 420-421, "Jesse James" (1 text, 1 tune) Lomax-FSUSA 80, "Jesse James" (1 text, 1 tune) Lomax-FSNA 183, "Jesse James" (1 text, 1 tune, which Laws places here but which is noticeably different from most other texts of this type) Lomax-ABFS, pp. 128-131, "Jesse James" (2 texts, 1 tune, but only the first is this ballad; the second is Jesse James II, Laws E2) Burt, pp. 191-192, "(Jesse James)" (1 excerpt) Fife-Cowboy/West 93, "Jesse James" (5 texts, 2 tunes, of which the "A" and "B" texts are Laws E1 and the others are distinct) LPound-ABS, 64, pp. 145-146, "Jesse James"; p. 146, "Jesse James" (2 texts) JHCox 44, "Jesse James" (1 text) PSeeger-AFB, p. 36, "Jesse James" (1 text, 1 tune) Gilbert, pp. 190-191, "Jesse James" (1 text) Pankake-PHCFSB, p. 273, "Jesse James" (1 text) Silber-FSWB, p. 202, "Jesse James" (1 text) Saffel-CowboyP, p. 188-189, "Jesse James" (1 text) DT 619, JESSJAME* Roud #2240 RECORDINGS: Bascom Lamar Lunsford, "Jesse James" (OKeh 40155, c. 1924) Ken Maynard, "Jesse James" (1930, unissued; on RoughWays1) Harry McClintock, "Jesse James" (Victor 21420, 1928; on WhenIWas2) Riley Puckett, "Jesse James" (Columbia 15033-D, 1925) George Reneau, "Jesse James" (Vocalion 14897, 1924) Almeda Riddle, "Jesse James" [fragment] (on LomaxCD1705) Pete Seeger, "Jesse James" (on PeteSeeger16) Ernest Thompson, "Jesse James" (Columbia 145-D, 1924) CROSS-REFERENCES: cf. "Jesse James (II)" [Laws E2] cf. "Jesse James (III)" cf. "The Death of Jesse James" cf. "Jesse James (IV)" cf. "Jesse James (VI -- 'I Wonder Where My Poor Old Jesse's Gone')" cf. "J. B. Marcum (A Kentucky Feud Song)" [Laws E19] (tune & meter) cf. "Cooper Milton" (lyrics) SAME TUNE: Jesus Christ (by Woody Guthrie) (Greenway-AFP, pp. 301-302; DT, JESUSCHR) ALTERNATE TITLES: Oh, People Ain't You Sorry Notes: It should probably be noted that Jesse James wasn't as nice a person as this song depicts. He began his career with Quantrill's raiders (today we would say "terrorists"), and his behavior never improved much except that he eventually began to settle down. "Thomas Howard" was the name used by James when he settled down in Saint Joseph, Missouri. The "Billy Gashade" mentioned in some texts as the author is unknown. This version is the "standard" Jesse James song, usually beginning "Jesse James was a lad who killed many a man, He robbed the Glendale train." The usual chorus runs, "(Poor) Jesse had a wife to mourn for his life, Three children, they were brave. But the dirty little coward who shot Mister Howard Has laid Jesse James in his grave." - RBW File: LE01 Go to the Ballad Search form The Ballad Index Copyright 2004 by Robert B. Waltz and David G. Engle. Here is the text from Belden. I suppose it's the same song as the first version in the Digital Tradition (click), but there are many differences. I wonder what's the source of the DT version. -Joe Offer- Jesse James 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 poor Jesse in the grave. It was Robert Ford, that dirty little coward, I wonder how he does feel; For he ate of Jesse's bread and slept in Jesse's bed And laid poor Jesse in the grave. Chorus: Poor Jesse had a wife to mourn for his life, His children they were brave; But that dirty little coward that shot Mr. Howard And laid poor Jesse in the grave! It was his brother Frank who 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 the crossing not very far from here, 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 Wednesday night, the moon was shining bright, They robbed the Glenville train. The people they did say, for many miles away, It was robbed by Frank and Jesse James. It was on Saturday night, Jesse was at home, Talking with his family brave. Robert Ford came along like a thief in the night And laid poor Jesse in the grave. The people held their breath when they heard of Jesse's death And wondered how he ever came to die. It was one of the gang called little Robert Ford, He shot poor Jesse on the sly. This song was made by Billy Gashade* As soon as the news did arrive. He said there is no man with the law in his hand Can take Jesse James when alive. *The name is LaShade in the two Missouri printed texts; but Gashade in CS and ABFS. 'Jesse James.' Sent to me (Belden) in 1906 by George Williams of Bollinger County, who says: 'This song I heard a country boy named Jim Burton sing some eight years ago. Many people in the country know it. I had never seen it in print till lately.' Belden does not provide a tune. |
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Subject: RE: Jesse James From: SINSULL Date: 02 Aug 04 - 05:48 PM I recently read Mamaw by Susan Dodd - a biographical novel about Zerelda Samuel, mother of the James Boys. Fascinating look at how to create a sociopath. |
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Subject: RE: Jesse James From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 02 Aug 04 - 05:44 PM More trivia. Cole Younger lived to write his autobiography and died in 1916. His gun, taken from him when he went to prison, was sold at auction for $211,000. Frank James died in his bed age 71. For a while he lectured, later exhibited the home place. Haven't found the Ford song. |
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Subject: RE: Jesse James From: Stewart Date: 02 Aug 04 - 04:24 PM Each Sept. my former home town of Northfield, MN celebrates Jesse James Days - more properly known as The Defeat of Jesse James Days. On Sept. 7, 1876 the JJ gang and the Younger Brothers attempted to rob the Northfield Bank, but were defeated. There was a shoot-out on the main street where two bank robbers were shot dead. The rest of the gang was chased out of town to SW Minnesota where the Younger brothers were captured and later "landed safe in Stillwater Prison" after avoiding a lynch mob. Jesse and his brother Frank allegedly escaped capture and fled to the Dakota territory. This was their last attempt at robbing a bank. Cheers, S. in Seattle |
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Subject: ADD: Jesse James / Jessee James From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 02 Aug 04 - 04:14 PM JESSEE JAMES (4) ^^ Jesse James was one of his names Another it was Howard He robbed the rich of every stitch. You bet he was no coward. His mother she was elderly His father was a preacher Though some do say, I can't gainsay, His mother was his teacher. Her strong right arm, it came to harm Detectives blew it off, sir, And killed her son, the youngest one. No wonder such she'd scoff, sir. My Jesse dear, your mother here Has taught more than she ought ter, For Robert Ford, I pledge my word Has marked you for his slaughter. For robbing trains Bob had no brains Unless Jess plainly showed him. Our governor for peace or war Explained this for to goad him. So Robert Ford, he scratched his gourd And then he said, "I'll go you, Give me a price that's something nice, And then by gee I'll show you!" Then Governor C. he laughed with glee And fixed a price to suit him. And Bob agreed with ready speed, To find Jesse James and shoot him. And then he did as he was bid And shot Jess in the back, sir, Then ran away on that same day, For cash he did not lack, sir. He did his best to live out west, But no one was his friend there. "You've killed your cousin," they went buzzin', However free he'd spend there. And then one day, the papers say, Bob Ford got his rewarding: A cowboy drunk, his heart did plunk. As you do you'll get according. Sung by Kris Kristopherson. Origin? Jessee James Fit to the usual Jesse James tune. Seems to have some mistakes. Anyone know it? See Jesse James III |
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Subject: ADD: Jesse James (Woody Guthrie) From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 02 Aug 04 - 03:49 PM JESSE JAMES ^^ (Woody Guthrie) Jesse James and his boys rode that Dodge City Trail, Held up the midnight Southern mail, And there never was a man with the law in his hand That could keep Jesse James in a jail. It was Frank and Jesse James that killed many a man, But they never was outlaws at heart; I wrote this song to tell you how it come That Frank and Jesse James got their start. They was living in a farm in the old Missouri hills, With a silver-haired mother and a home; Now the railroad bullies come to chase them off their land, But they found that Frank and Jesse wouldn't run. Then a railroad scab, he went and got a bomb, And he throwed it at the door- And it killed Mrs. James a-sleeping in her bed, So Jesse grabbed a big forty-four. Yes, Frank and Jesse James were men that was game To stop that high-rolling train- And to shoot down the rat that killed Mrs. james, They was Two-gun Frank and Jesse James. Now a bastard and coward called little Robert Ford, He claimed he was Frank and Jesse's friend, Made love to Jesse's wife and he took Jesse's life And he laid poor Jesse in his grave. The people were surprised when Jesse lost his life, Wondered how he ever came to fall, Robert Ford, it's a fact, shot Jesse in the back, While Jesse hung a picture on the wall. They dug Jesse's grave and a stone they raised, It says, "Jesse James lies here- Was killed by a man, a bastard and a coward, Whose name ain't worthy to appear." Song composed by Guthrie in 1930s? Printed in Irwin Silber, 1967, "Songs of the Great American West, p. 256. Jesse James The bomb "that killed Mrs. James" is based on this- "On 25 Jan 1875 Pinkertons laid seige to the Samuel home. James and Frank got away. Some time during the shoot-out, a device similar to the mon otov [Molotov] cocktail was thrown threw a window, where it hit Mrs Zerelda Samuel, taking most of her arm and killing her nine year old son, Archie Samuel." From Yvonne James Henderson, in Univ. Kansas, families website. Her remarks are a little scrambled and may have errors: James Family |
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Subject: RE: Jesse James From: Brendy Date: 04 Apr 01 - 06:23 AM Quote from this article: "Even Asdee may not be entirely unknown in the United States today, since its late parish priest claimed that the hamlet was the home of the ancestors of Jesse James, whom he made a local hero and for the repose of whose soul he celebrated a requiem mass each year. The hamlet now has a Jesse James Tavern and some hope of attracting American tourists." Curiouser and curiouser!! Incidentally, I remember the 'moving statues' phenomenon, well, being living there at the time. B. |
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Subject: RE: Jesse James From: Fiolar Date: 04 Apr 01 - 06:08 AM There is little evidence that any of the James' family came from Ireland. The father was a Baptist minister and his roots could be Welsh. It is tempting to surmise that if the Civil War had never happened, Jesse might have turned out differently. Also throw in the Pinkerton Detective Agency members of whom are said to have killed innocent members of the James family. For more info on Jesse and loads of other Western outlaws/lawmen try the "Encyclopedia of Western Lawmen and Outlaws" by Jay Robert Nash. ISBN 0-306-80591-X and published by Da Capo Press, New York. A mine of information. |
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Subject: RE: Jesse James From: Brendy Date: 04 Apr 01 - 05:50 AM There's a pub in Asdee, County Kerry, Ireland called the Jesse James. Apparently he came from there too, or some of his family did! I don't know the story, though. B. |
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Subject: RE: Jesse James From: Ella who is Sooze Date: 04 Apr 01 - 05:30 AM apparantly Jesse James was originally Welsh... Just a tit bit I heard... thought I'd share that one... Ella |
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Subject: RE: Jesse James From: Troll Date: 04 Apr 01 - 01:59 AM Jesse James was a lad, Who killed many a man, A psychopathic killer was he. But the people didn't mind that, 'Cause he was a Democrat, And the Democrets ran Missouri don't you see. Ch. Jesse had a wife, to mourne for his life. Two children who wept and cried. who shot Mister Howard, Got Ten Grand from the Governor on the side. I learned this version from Rosalie Sorrels in 1962. No idea who wrote it tho. troll |
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Subject: RE: Jesse James From: jcdevildog Date: 04 Apr 01 - 12:43 AM If you haven't heard David Olney's song "Robert Ford and Jesse James", I highly recommend it. A great, unsentimentalized take on one possible "back story" to the killing. |
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Subject: RE: Jesse James From: GUEST,Arkie Date: 04 Apr 01 - 12:14 AM He was dug up, tested, and reburied and Missouri musicians and Folk Legacy recording artists, Cathy Barton and Dave Para sang at his funeral. |
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Subject: RE: Jesse James From: CRANKY YANKEE Date: 03 Apr 01 - 05:00 PM Marshal (Grandpa ) Jones' "Jesse James", last verse and chorus (throughout) His end it came at last, with a bullet quick and fast from a comrade he'd trusted in his band The debt he paid was just as they laid him in the dust For he'd been such a terror in the land
No more Jesse James no more Jesse James |
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Subject: RE: Jesse James From: GUEST Date: 03 Apr 01 - 01:09 PM There was a recent tv special that proved he was indeed killed. DNA tests proved that the man in the grave was Jesse James. |
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Subject: RE: Jesse James From: Mrrzy Date: 03 Apr 01 - 11:54 AM Isn't that the movie with Everybody And His Brother? Ha ha? If so, yes, great movie. Also there is a good Tony Hillerman mystery that centers around somebody looking for the old Hole in the Wall gang, especially either Butch or Sundance, who apparently survived Bolivia and went off into Navajo territory back whenever... not sure of the title, though. Next year in 02 there should be some brouhaha about Jesse, no? 120 years? |
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Subject: RE: Jesse James From: Kim C Date: 03 Apr 01 - 11:30 AM I don't believe in any of the Jesse conspiracy theories. I believe he was shot dead and buried and that's the end of that. BTW, The Long Riders is an awesome movie. |
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Subject: RE: Jesse James From: Brendy Date: 03 Apr 01 - 11:28 AM Indeed it is, Mark B. |
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Subject: RE: Jesse James From: Midchuck Date: 03 Apr 01 - 10:20 AM "Cold-blooded in is wrath, He was your common sociopath Hardly the poor man's savior. And as for the 'dirty little coward Who shot down Mr. Howard;' Why, Bob Ford did the world a favor!" - from "The True Ballad of Jesse James" - it's in the DT. Peter. |
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Subject: RE: Jesse James From: Mark Clark Date: 03 Apr 01 - 10:18 AM I thought "Cow Cow Yicky" was a Leadbelly tune. - Mark |
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Subject: RE: Jesse James From: Brendy Date: 03 Apr 01 - 09:32 AM Come a cow-cow yicky, come a cow-cow yicky, yicky yea. B. |
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Subject: Jesse James From: Fiolar Date: 03 Apr 01 - 09:16 AM On this day April 3rd 1882, Jesse James was shot in the back by Bob Ford who was one of Jesse's gangs. The killing took place at Jesse's home in St Joseph, Missouri. The event which was immortalised in "The Ballad of Jesse James" did more than anything else to ensure the legend of Jesse James would continue. The story even goes that it was all a set up so that Jesse could continue to live incognito in security. The same thing happened with any famous figure including Butch Cassidy. The song according to the last verse was composed by Billy Garshade. |
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