Me And A Bunch Of Cowboys Run Into Jesse James
May 29, 2008 at 3:25 pmPosted in music Tags: alan lomax, jesse james, lead belly
Lead Belly – Western Cowboy (1934)
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Oh, de hardes’ battle was there ever on a western plain,
Oh, de hardes’ battle was there ever on a western plain,
When me an’ a bunch of cowboys run into Jessee James.
Coma-cow-cow yicky yicky, cow-cow, yicky-yicky-yea.
In hand-to-hand combat I think Jesse would have lost a finger, three toes, and an ear. With guns things would have been different, sure, but things would have been different had the weapon of choice been a concertina, mandolin, or guitar. After watching the latest Indiana Jones movie (can I call it that? movie?) I created a list of icons I imagined would put on a good, old fashioned fistfight.
Historically impossible considering the former was born roughly six years after the latter’s death, but Lead Belly vs. Jesse James surrounded by an early 20th century, Louisiana chain gang would have been an amazing event to witness.
Coma-cow-cow yicky yicky, cow-cow, yicky-yicky-yea.
2 Responses to “Me And A Bunch Of Cowboys Run Into Jesse James”
By Neil Cake on May 30, 2008
This is good. I've got Woody Guthrie's version of this. It seems to be called “Jesse James”. Leadbelly's has more groove to it.
By rahawa on May 30, 2008
“Black Texicans” has another recording on it called “Western Cowboy” by Percy Ridge.It's slightly jarring since a) the song lies adjacent to Lead Belly's “Western Cowboy,” and b) while Percy Ridge's “Western Cowboy” begins with the same phrase as Lead Belly's, the song diverges sharply after that. Still a terrific track, though. Check out the Lomax collection titled “Bad Man Ballads” if you get a chance. Good stuff.