Classic Poem

1.

Jesse James was one of his names, another it was Howard.
He robbed the rich of every stitch. You bet, he was no coward.

2.

His mother she was elderly, his father was a preacher,
Though some do say, I can't gainsay, his mother was his teacher.

3.

Her strong right arm it came to harm. Detectives blew it off, sir,
And killed her son, the youngest one. No wonder such she'd scoff, sir.

4.

My Jesse dear, your mother here has taught more than she ought ter,
For Robert Ford, I pledge my word, has marked you for his slaughter.

5.

For robbing trains Bob had no brains, unless Jess plainly showed him.
Our governor for peace or war explained this for to goad him.

6.

So Robert Ford he scratched his gourd, and then he said " I'll go you,
Give me a price that's something nice, and then, by gee, I'll show you! "

7.

Then Governor C. he laughed with glee and fixed a price to suit him.
And Bob agreed, with ready speed, to find Jess James and shoot him.

8.

And then he did as he was bid and shot Jess in the back, sir,
Then ran away on that same day, for cash he did not lack, sir.

9.

He did his best to live out west, but no one was his friend there,
" You've killed your cousin, " they went buzzin', however free he'd spend there.

10.

And then one day, the papers say, Bob Ford got his rewarding:
A cowboy drunk his heart did plunk. As you do you'll git according.