Jesse James

Woody Guthrie

About Jesse James

"Jesse James" is a 19th-century American folk song about the outlaw of the same name, first recorded by Bentley Ball in 1919 and subsequently by many others, including Bascom Lamar Lunsford, Vernon Dalhart, Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, The Kingston Trio, The Pogues, The Ramblin' Riversiders, The Country Gentlemen, Willy DeVille, Van Morrison, Grandpa Jones, Bob Seger, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (on the Uncle Charlie & His Dog Teddy album), Sons of the Pioneers, Johnny Cash, Liam Clancy, Mungo Jerry and Bruce Springsteen. Members of the Western Writers of America chose it as one of the Top 100 Western songs of all time. 


Year:
2012
1:51
115 

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Just about the worst gun battle
I've ever had in the western plains 
When me and a bunch of cowboys  
Run on in Jesse James
Come a ki-ki--yicky 
Cow, ki-yicky-yicky-yeah 

Run into Jesse James, boys 
Run into Jesse James
The guns went on like thunder
And the bullets fell like rain
Come a ki-ki--yicky 
Cow, ki-yicky-yicky-yeah 

I went to my girl's house 
She's sittin' d'ere alone 
Went to my girl's house 
She's sittin' d'ere alone 
I'm a poor western cowboy 
A long way from home 
Come a ki-ki--yicky 
Cow, ki-yicky-yicky-yeah 
When I left my girl's house 
She was rockin' in her rockin' chair 
When I left my girl's house 
She was rockin' in her rockin' chair 
Poor western cowboy 
Please don't you leave me here 
Come a ki-ki--yicky 
Cow, ki-yicky-yicky-yeah 
Went to my girl's house 
Sitting deep down in my saddle 
Went to my girl's house 
Sitting deep down in my saddle 
I'm the best western cowboy 
That ever herd cattle 
Come a ki-ki--yicky 
Cow, ki-yicky-yicky-yeah 
Oh, de hardest battle 
Was there ever on the western plains 
Oh, de hardest battle 
Was there ever on the western plains 
When me an a bunch of cowboys 
Run into Jesse James 
Come a ki-ki--yicky 
Cow, ki-yicky-yicky-yeah 
Me an a bunch of cowboys 
Run into Jesse James 
Me an a bunch of cowboys 
Run into Jesse James 
All the bullets was a-fallin' 
Just like a shower rain 
Come a ki-ki--yicky 
Cow, ki-yicky-yicky-yeah 
Come all you cowboys 
Don't you wanna go? 
Come all you cowboys 
Don't you wanna go? 
Gon see the ranges 
On the range in *Buffalo 
Come a cow ki--yicky 
Cow, cow, yicky-yicky-yea 
Take de hardest battle 
Was there ever on Bunker Hill 
Oh, de hardest battle 
Was there ever on Bunker Hill 
When me an' a bunch of cowboys 
Run into Buffalo Bill 
Come a cow ki--yicky 
Cow, cow, yicky-yicky-yea 
Come all you cowboys 
Don't you wanna hear? 
Come all you cowboys 
Don't you wanna hear? 
O'vr nineteen hundred 
Bullets around your ear 
Come a cow ki--yicky 
Cow, cow, yicky-yicky-yeah.

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Woody Guthrie

Woodrow Wilson "Woody" Guthrie (July 14, 1912 – October 3, 1967) was an American singer-songwriter and folk musician whose musical legacy includes hundreds of political, traditional and children's songs, ballads and improvised works. He frequently performed with the slogan This Machine Kills Fascists displayed on his guitar. His best-known song is "This Land Is Your Land." Many of his recorded songs are archived in the Library of Congress. Such songwriters as Bob Dylan, Phil Ochs, Bruce Springsteen, John Mellencamp, Pete Seeger, Joe Strummer, Billy Bragg, Jeff Tweedy and Tom Paxton have acknowledged Guthrie as a major influence. more »

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Written by: RY COODER

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


7 facts about this song

Bob Seger
"Jesse James" is not a typical song in Seger's discography and is not readily available on his main albums or streaming platforms.
Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen’s version of "Jesse James" is a part of his 2006 album "We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions." The album was an experiment in sound for Springsteen, focusing on folk and Americana. - Springsteen's version is actually a cover of a traditional folk song about the famous American outlaw and is based on a version by Bascom Lamar Lundsford.
Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash cover of "Jesse James" was released as a track on his 1960 studio album "Sings Hank Williams and Other Favorites". - Cash was known for his deep, calm bass-baritone voice and the song's storytelling nature is typical of Cash's style.
Pete Seeger
Pete Seeger's version of "Jesse James" is quite significant. Seeger was an American folk singer and social activist and his version of the song is simple with primarily vocal and banjo instrumentation. - Seeger's version is traditional, but it has strong political undertones inherent in Seeger's music and beliefs.
The Kingston Trio
The Kingston Trio, an American folk and pop group, recorded their version of "Jesse James" with modern sound as well as adding a horn section, making it distinct from other versions.
The Pogues
Irish band The Pogues also released a version of "Jesse James". This version features the band's typical Irish folk instrumentation and punk influences. - The band’s version of the song was included in their album ‘Hell’s Ditch’ released in 1990.
Woody Guthrie
While Guthrie is known for his folk songs and is acknowledged as an inspiration for many artists, there is no official recording or release of "Jesse James" by Woody Guthrie. - Guthrie’s works have inspired other artists to cover older folk songs, including "Jesse James", building a folk reviving movement.

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