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THE BALLAD OF JESSE JAMES

from MONA LISA SMILE by Billy O'Dwyer Bob

/

lyrics

Born in Missouri 'neath the southern sky
He had grit in his belly and a look in his eye
And any man who crossed him, he was destined to die
At the hands of Jesse James.

A wanted man with a price on his head
And those who came to collect often turned up dead
He was quick with the gun, so legend said
Was the outlaw, Jesse James.

Now some say Jesse, he was just no good
Some called him a latter-day Robin Hood
But he done for the poor as best he could
The outlaw, Jesse James.

For robbing banks and trains, he was a hunted man
For murder in the first he was gonna hang
Wanted dead or alive with the Younger Gang
Was Frank and Jesse James.

Chorus
Oh Jesse James, Jesse James
The unsung hero of the open plains
He's got rebel blood flows through the veins
Of the outlaw Jesse James.
Oh Jesse James, Jesse James
Bet your ma never knew what a legend she named
Of all the cowboys riding on the open range
There's never been an outlaw like Jesse James.

Well he hung up his guns and he took him a wife
He had him some kids and he settled in life
But the lack of adventure cut him through like a knife
The outlaw Jesse James.

For nobody knows how a man's possessed
But robbing banks and trains was what Jesse knew best
He returned to his ways and brought the wild to the west
The outlaw Jesse James.

Chorus

Well, a dirty hand took the devil's reward
By a traitor and a snake they called Bob Ford
For he cocked his gun and he summoned the Lord
To the outlaw, Jesse James.

Now the story goes, and I've heard it said
He was shot from behind in the back of the head
And the coward crowed as he laid him dead
'I shot Jesse James!'

Chorus

So listen up people, hear me, one and all
Where the buffaloes roam and the coyotes call
No man never rode nor walked as tall
As the outlaw Jesse James.

For his name, it traveled the whole world wide
It carried on the wind and drifted on the tide
And the story is told at every campfire side
Of the outlaw Jesse James.

Chorus

credits

from MONA LISA SMILE, released July 20, 2014

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Billy O'Dwyer Bob South Tipperary, Ireland

'Billy O'Dwyer is from the Emerald Isle and possesses a pronounced Irish brogue that is wholly absorbing. He has written all the material and proves to be a good storyteller...' -Country Music People
'The voice is mellow, the arrangements, beautifully simple and the lyrics are excellent. Billy is another one of those treasures of the music scene...a talent to watch out for.' -Irish Music Magazine ... more

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