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 recalled
AUTHOR: 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HISTORICAL REFERENCES: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-NewAmericanSongster, pp. 187-188, "Jesse James" (1 text)
DT, JESSJAM1
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Jesse James (I)" [Laws E1] and references there
NOTES [61 words]: 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.
For full background on Frank and Jesse James, see the notes to "Jesse James (III)," the James song which has perhaps the strongest factual basis. - RBW
File: DarNS188

Go to the Ballad Search form
Go to the Ballad Index Song List

Go to the Ballad Index Instructions
Go to the Ballad Index Bibliography or Discography