Jesse With the Long Hair.... Songtext
von Robert Earl Keen

Jesse took a powder, slicked his long hair back
Put a cartridge in his gun and stepped outside his shack,
Saddled up his buckskin mare and rode off into town.
Jesse with the long hair hangin′ down.

Luann fixed her makeup, straightened out her dress,
Picked up a photograph and held it to her breast.
How could she ever love him? He never was around.
Jesse with the long hair hangin' down.

[Chorus]
Flesh and blood it turns to dust
Scatters in the wind
Love is all that matters in the end

Sheriff Paul was sleppin′, his hat off in his lap
When he got a package that woke him from his nap.
He unrolled a poster, couldn't help but frown
Jesse with the long hair hangin' down.


They had been compadres many years before.
Jesse saved his life one time back before the war.
Now he was the king of thieves, he wore it like a crown.
Jesse with the long hair hangin′ down.

[Chorus]

Mr. Brown the banker hid the money in his case.
It was time for him to leave this god forsaken place.
His true love loved the outlaw who hated Mr. Brown
That was Jesse with the long hair hangin′ down.

Mr. Brown had taken the land that Jesse owned.
The banker claimed that Jesse had not repaid his loan.
Truth and lies were tangled but when the truth unwound
There was Jesse with the long hair hangin' down.

Mr. Brown was all alone when Luann came walking in.
She pulled a pistol from her purse and pointed it at him.
When the door blew open she turned to look around
It was Jesse with the long hair hangin′ down.

Mr. Brown grabbed Luann's gun and held it to her head.
"I′ll blow her to Kingdom Come" is what the banker said.
In that fateful moment Jesse stood his ground.
Jesse with the long hair hangin' down.

[Chorus]


The bullet that killed Mr. Brown came through the windowpane.
It put a hole above one eye and lodged down in his brain.
He never saw a puff of smoke, no flash, no fire, no sound.
From Jesse with the long hair hangin′ down.

Sheriff Paul was fast asleep, his hat down on his eyes,
When he got a letter and much to his suprise
A picture of the sweet Luann in her wedding gown
And Jesse with the long hair hangin' down