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.


