"Frank and Jesse James" is the beginning track from Warren Zevon's 1976 album, Warren Zevon.
It was written by Warren Zevon and Jackson Browne.
About the Song[]
The song describes the lives of two brothers from a small town in Missouri named Frank and Jesse James. It describes them learning horseback riding and marksmanship, before ending up fighting on the losing side of the American Civil War. Not having been granted amnesty they rode away as outlaws, riding against the government until they are betrayed by the gunmen Robert Ford. The song ends with the thought that the poor Missouri farmers were the only really ones who understood them. The song is odd for in the middle it seems to fade out before coming back again.
Zevon stated in a 1981 Rolling Stone article that the song was written "for and about Don and Phil Everly" with whom he was touring at the time.
Lyrics[]
Note: the text of this song's lyrics is not under the same copyright license as the wiki's encyclopedic text, it is used under fair use/dealing.
On a small Missouri farm
Back when the west was young
Two boys learned to rope and ride
And be handy with a gun
War broke out between the states
And they joined up with Quantrill
And it was over in Clay county
That Frank and Jesse finally learned to kill
Keep on riding, riding, riding
Frank and Jesse James
Keep on riding, riding, riding
'Til you clear your names
Keep on riding, riding, riding
Across the rivers and the range
Keep on riding, riding, riding Frank and Jesse James
After Appomattox they were on the loosing side
So no amnesty was granted
And as outlaws they did ride
They rode against the railroads,
And they rode against the banks
And they rode against the governor
Never did they ask for a word of thanks
Keep on riding, riding, riding
Frank and Jesse James
Keep on riding, riding, riding
'Til you clear your names
Keep on riding, riding, riding
Across the prairies and the plains
Keep on riding, riding, riding
Frank and Jesse James
Robert Ford, a gunman
Did exchange for his parole
Took the life of James the outlaw
Which he snuck up on and stole
No one knows just where they came to be misunderstood But the poor Missouri farmers knew
Frank and Jesse do the best they could
Keep on riding, riding, riding
Frank and Jesse James
Keep on riding, riding, riding
'Til you clear your names
Keep on riding, riding, riding
Across the rivers and the range
Keep on riding, riding, riding
Frank and Jesse James