This is Jesse James, the ninth single from the upcoming CD NARROW AND STEEP by San Franscisco based singer-songwriter Denny Brown. 

Every 3-4 weeks a new single will be released in a RANDOM ORDER, each with its own unique cover, leading up to a full digital release later in the year. In addition, we will be releasing a few short films, both unplugged performances as well as music videos.

"I am interested in timelesss music. Not nostalgia but a sound that defies to be part of a certain period. Music that is hard to pin down when it was first recorded. When a sound, a song structure, a melody feels both of the past and present, and when they melt into one another, it can be forever."
Denny Brown San Francisco 2015

Single #8 Jesse James

The inspiration for this song, of course, comes from the outlaw Jesse James who was killed by one of his own gang members. However, the real story is about betrayal and greed that goes hand-in-hand.

Jesse James (1847 – 1882) may be the best known western outlaw. He joins the ranks with Stagolee, Railroad Bill with folksongs written about them.  He is also linked to other real outlaws like Cole Younger and Billy the Kid.  He has also been glorified in movies, television and plays.  We think of him like a Robin Hood but perhaps domestic terrorist might be more relevant.

Jesse James and his brother, Frank, were confederate guerillas during the Civil War and were part of the Centralia massacre. After the war, they became bank robbers.  Many of these robberies resulted in the murder of tellers and innocent bystanders.
They later hooked up with Cole Younger and his brothers and carried out robberies from Iowa to Texas and Kansas to West Virginia. 
Jesse James was nationally known and his legend was secured after his infamous death.  He was ‘betrayed’ by Robert Ford for a bounty of five thousand dollars offered by the Missouri governor.

I wanted to make this arrangement cook. Overdriven guitars and arena rock drums are key ingredients to this recording.

I went down to the depot
Not many nights ago
Done something very strange
That I never done before

Got down on my knees
And delivered the keys
To Frank and Jesse James
Because it was that dirty little coward
That shot Mr. Howard
And laid poor Jesse in his grave

Chorus:
It’s a might true sign
You may never rise again
It’s a might true sign
To wake up cold in hand

People in the West heard of Jesse’s death
And wondered how he died
Ford’s pistol ball
Brought him tumblin’ from that wall
He laid Jesse down to die

Jesse goes to rest with his hands on his breast
Devil on his knee
‘cause it was that dirty little coward
That shot Mr. Howard
And laid poor Jesse in his grave