Jesse James became a hero in folklore and dime novels before he was killed in 1882. A manifestation of this was the emergence of a wide body of music that celebrates or alludes to Jesse James.

Folk song

The most famous song about Jesse James is the folk song "Jesse James" recorded in 1924 by Bascom Lamar Lunsford, and subsequently by many artists, including Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, The Pogues, The Country Gentlemen, Burl Ives, Willy DeVille, Van Morrison and Bruce Springsteen on his 2006 album We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions.

Other appearances

Memorial songs

Mentions in group names

Mentions in lyrics

Robert Ford in music

Robert Newton "Bob" Ford, who gained fame by killing Jesse James in 1882, is also depicted in these songs.