Battle of Jessie

from Calling All Saints by Jan James

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lyrics

Battle of Jessie Key of E / 98 bpm / Time: 3:14

Way down in the holler on the bad side of town
Jessie knew someday they’d take his life
So he ran hard every night, trying to stay in the light
No they won’t break him down without a fight

His daddy was a gambler
His momma played the blues
They never really taught him wrong from right
But Jessie was a good man doing everything he can
No he won’t be broken down without a fight

As the story happens on one hot summer night
The chips were down and Jessie had a gun
Now the bloodstains won’t wash away
Jesse finally had his day and now our man
Is really on the run

The law tried to find him but they couldn’t find a trace
For many years it seemed that he has won
Till one day he came to town and the sheriff tried to
Shoot him down, he was wounded in the arm by the sheriff’s gun.

He held his hand up to the sky and shouted lord why o why
Did you forsake me after all the good I done
No there ain’t no way I die tonight I’m rising up to fight the fight
Ain’t no way the devil wins cause it ain’t right

The moral of the story is to stay out of the street
Cause trouble always finds a way to win
Yes Jessie was a good man, doing everything he can but
Trouble always finds a way to win
Yeah the devil always finds a way to win
Yeah yeah trouble always finds a way to win

credits

from Calling All Saints, released February 21, 2019
Words & Music by Jan James & Craig Calvert

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Jan James Chicago, Illinois

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