The Pogues - Jesse James: Guitar Chords

Learn to play "Jesse James" on your guitar with our chord guide. This page provides everything you need to perform this song on the guitar, including lyrics integrated with chords, chord diagrams, and a key transposer to match your vocal range.

G
Jesse James we understand
     C             G
Has killed many a man
                      D
He robbed the Union trains
     G
He stole from the rich
     C           G
and gave to the poor
                   D
He'd a hand and a heart
        G
and a brain

Well it was on Saturday night
The stars were shining bright
They robbed the Glendale train
And the people they did say
for many miles away
It was those outlays
Frank and Jesse James

Chorus:
C
Now Jesse had a wife
         G
Lived a lady all her life
                         D
And children they were brave
     G
But history does record
      C               G
That Bob and Charlie Ford
                D             G
Have laid poor Jesse in his grave

Well, it was Bob and Charlie Ford,
those dirty little cowards
I wonder how they feel
For they ate of Jesse's bread,
they slept in Jesse's bed
They laid poor Jesse in his grave

Chorus

Well, the people held their breath,
they heard of Jesse's death
They wondered how he come to fall
It was Robert Ford, in fact, who shot
him in the back
While he hung a picture on the wall

Chorus

Well, history does record that Bob and Charlie Ford
Have laid poor Jesse, laid poor Jesse
Have laid Jesse James in his grave

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Guitar Chord Diagrams

C

Guitar chord C

D

Guitar chord D

G

Guitar chord G

Here you can see detailed diagrams for each guitar chord used in the song. Utilize our key transposer to adjust the chords to a key that better fits your singing range. Simply select the desired key, and the chords throughout this page will update automatically, ensuring you can play and sing comfortably.

If you are also interested in learning how to play "Jesse James" on the ukulele, check out the chords on our sister site: Ukulele Chords for "Jesse James" by The Pogues.

The Pogues Song List