The foreman touched the cold steel lines
The rail bed was frozen with ice
In the distance an engine was keeping good time

The steam whistle moaned just twice

Down in the cut past the old tressel bridge

Twelve fine horses stood
Masked men shivered in the cold on the ridge
Not far from the glendale woods


The brass lamp shone from the swaying train
When the driver saw the red light

Her iron brakes sparked like silver rain
And the metals screamed through the night


The baggage man peered out to look for the fault
When fear froze up his heart
He was staring down the barrel of an army colt

That threatened to tear him apart

We will burn your train to cinders

So throw the money on down
Open up your damned express car
And jump down to the ground


But we won't touch that old woman
[incomprehensible] and they claimed

They ain't offered no reward
For frank and jesse james
Frank and jesse james


In long soldier's coats frayed with the years
Quickly they scrambled aboard

Men were the sweatin' and the women shed tears
And a preacher prayed to the lord


When they opened the safe there was nothing for them
So they strode down through the train
What a miserable sight these desperate men

Robbin' old folks for their gold watch chains

We will burn your train to cinders

So throw the money on down
Open up your damned express car
And jump down to the ground


But we won't touch that old woman
[incomprehensible] and they claimed

They ain't offered no reward
For frank and jesse james
Frank and jesse james


Now some say the devil had taken his soul
Some say his spirit survived

But we all know he was nothin' but a missouri farm boy
Just fighting to stay alive


High above that railroad bed
On a ridge where the pines grow tall
If you listen to the wind there's a ghost of a chance

You can still hear old jesse call

We will burn your train to cinders

So throw the money on down
Open up your damned express car
And jump down to the ground


But we won't touch that old woman
[incomprehensible] and they claimed

They ain't offered no reward
For frank and jesse james
For frank and jesse james