The Legend of J. Frank Dalton

It was midnight in Longview, TX
At the old Reo Palm Isle,
Pretty ladies danced by his table
And gave the old man a smile.
He came in most Fridays
About a quarter to nine,
Drank a few beers,
Sat alone near the back exit sign.
Everyone called him the old man with a cane
But in 1946, J. Frank Dalton was his name.
He had used many an alias,
Lived in many a town,
But age had overtaken him and slowed him way down.

The times had sure changed
Since the old man rode with outlaws
And was called another name.
He now traveled over the East Texas countryside,
From Big Sandy to Mt. Enterprise,
Telling stories about the Great Civil War
And how he had fought for the South’s side.
But the best story he ever told,
Some folks believed him, some thought he lied,
Was the story that he was the real Jesse James,
And had not really died.

The old man would say,
Sit down and listen to my story
Of how I rode with “Bloody Bill”
And fought for the glorious Grey,
Sit down and listen and then you decide
If the Outlaw legend lived on,
And another man died.
Sit down and listen to an old man’s tale
Of how some young Missouri boys loved courting danger,
And a few went to jail.

Some Texas old-timers still remember
And recollect with a smile
The old man with a cane
That visited the Reo Palm Isle,
Always sitting quietly in the corner,
In a number two blue serge suit,
White shirt, with a black string tie.
He watched the dancers
As they would spin and whirl,
Listened to Jimmy Davis songs
And thought about his favorite girl.
Sometimes he would take out her faded picture
And hold it in his hand,
Stare out across the dance floor
Remembering when he was a much younger man.
Those friends that saw the old picture
He had carried so long and so far
Will tell you it was a dark-haired beauty
Who had signed her name “Belle Starr”!

The old man would say,
Sit down and listen to my story
Of how I rode with “Bloody Bill”
And fought for the glorious Grey.
Sit down and listen and then you decide
If the outlaw legend lived on
And another man died.
Sit down and listen to an old man’s tale
Of how some young Missouri boys loved courting danger
And a few went to jail.