The Ballad of Jesse James Chords
by Van Morrison
The Ballad of Jesse James by Van Morrison is a beginner-friendly guitar song played in the key of D. It uses the chords D, A and G. Use the transpose and diagram tools on this page to change the key, see each shape, or simplify the chords.
D
Jesse James was a man and he killed many men
A D
He robbed the Glendale train and he took from the richer
G D A D
And he gave that to the poorer he'd a hand and a heart and a brain
G D
Oh Jesse had a wife to mourn for his life
A
Three children they were so brave
D G
But that dirty little coward that shot Mr. Howard
D A D
Has laid Jesse James in his grave
D
On Wednesday night when the moon was shining bright
A D
They robbed that Glendale train and the folks from miles about
G D
They all said without a doubt it was done by her
A D
Frankie and Jesse James
G D
Oh Jessie had a wife, to mourn for his life
A
Three children they were so brave
D G
But that dirty little coward that shot Mr. Howard
D A D
Has laid poor Jesse in his grave
(Instrumental)
D
Well the people held their breath when they heard about Jesse's death
A D
And they wondered how poor Jesse came to die It was one of his guys,
G D A D
Called Little Robert Ford and he shot Jessie James on the sly
G D
Oh Jessie had a wife to mourn for his life
A
Three children they were so brave
D G
But that dirty little coward that shot Mr. Howard
D A D
Has laid Jesse James in his grave
D A D
Has laid poor Jesse in his grave
D A D
He laid Jesse James in his grave