a.k.a. THE BALLAD OF JESSE JAMES
a.k.a. DON'T YOU WANT TO BE AN OUTLAW?
version 2
Don't you wanna climb a mountain
Don't you wanna ride the river
Drink from a magic fountain
Give a woman all the love that you can give her
Well don't you wanna be an outlaw
Don't you wanna ride the range
Don't you wanna be an outlaw children
Just like Jesse, like Jesse James
Just like Jesse boy
Don't you wanna swim the ocean
Don't you wanna climb the highest tree
Drink some of Mama's loving potion*
Don't you wanna dream some fantasy*
Don't you wanna be an outlaw
Just a poor boy caught on the skids
Don't you wanna be an outlaw children
Just like Billy, just like Billy the Kid
Billy he was a bad boy
He won the wild west
By the year of 21, had many notches on the gun
Someone laid him to an early grave
Don't you wanna climb a mountain
Don't you wanna ride the river
Drink from a magic fountain
Give your woman all the love that you can give her
Don't you wanna be an outlaw
Don't you wanna ride the range
Don't you wanna be an outlaw children
Just like Jesse
Jesse he was a bad boy
He won the wild west
And many notches on the gun, by the year of 21
Someone laid him to an early rest
Don't you wanna climb a mountain
Don't you wanna ride the river
Drink from a magic fountain
Give your woman all the love that you can give her
Don't you wanna be an outlaw
Don't you wanna ride the range
Don't you wanna be an outlaw children
Just like Jesse
Don't you wanna be an outlaw
Don't you wanna be an outlaw
Just like Jesse, just like Jesse, just like Jesse
Whoa whoa whoa
A track that originally dates from the Bruce Springsteen Band era, from the only known studio session that
the Band ever did. It was recorded in the late 1971. Also played live that year. Not sure whether DON'T YOU
WANT TO BE AN OUTLAW? is the same song or not.
As in accord with other songs of the time, there is a Western theme running through this song. Some
polished production shows that Bruce's studio work had improved in leaps and bounds since the days of Steel
Mill.
