[Verse 1]
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 hanging 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 hanging down

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

[Verse 2]
Sheriff Paul was fast asleep, his hat off in his lap
When he got a package that woke him from his nap
He unrolled the poster, couldn't help but frown
It was Jesse with the long hair hanging 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 hanging down
[Chorus]
Flesh and blood, it turns to dust
Scatters in the wind
Love is all that matters in the end

[Verse 3]
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 hanging 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 hanging down

[Verse 4]
Mr. Brown was all alone, 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 hanging 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 the fateful moment Jesse stood his ground
Jesse with the long hair hanging down
[Chorus]
Flesh and blood, it turns to dust
Scatters in the wind
Love is all that matters in the end

[Verse 5]
The bullet that killed Mr. Brown came through the windowpane
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 hanging down

Sheriff Paul was fast asleep, his hat down on his eyes
When he got a letter and much to his surprise
A picture of his sweet Luann in her wedding gown
And 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, my friend