I was just listening to Bruce Stringsteen's most recent album - which is absolutely wonderful by the way - and in particular at his version of Jesse James. Now, I have nothing against The 'Boss's' version, in fact I love all of the album which mixes the "Seeger" songs with rock and, most importantly, with great New Orleans jazz. The music is fabulous. But it occurred to me that Jesse James was a veteran of the Slavocracy war against the Union who turned his war toned skills into bank and train robbing, in the process killing working-class tellers and railway clerks. (I admit, I am basing my facts on the movie "The Long Riders" -- great music by the way--) Then he became a hero of the American left via Woody Guthrie, Seeger and, now, Springsteen. True, he robbed from the 'rich' ( if you equate rich with bank payrolls) which he distributed to his 'family' (sounds like the Mafia to me). So why has he become a left-wing hero? and why should we sing his song. (This is not to justify "the dirty little coward who shot Mr. Howard and laid poor Jesse in his grave" who was even more dispicable, killing James for blood money.)
By the way, I love the song and have been singing it since the 1960s. But really, is Jesse James defensible from a left viewpoint? Paul P -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.392 / Virus Database: 268.5.6/339 - Release Date: 5/14/06
