Frankie and Johnnie were lovers
sweet Christ how they could love
they swore to be true to each other
as true as the stars above
but he was a man and he done her wrong.

Frankie she lived in the cribhouse
the cribhouse had only one door
she gave all her money to Johnnie
who spent it on a parlorhouse whore
he was a man and he done her wrong.

Frankie went down to the corner
to buy herself a bottle of beer
and she said to the old bartender
have you seen my loving Johnnie in here
he is a man and he done me wrong.

I ain't agoing to tell you no secrets
and I ain't agoing to tell you no lies
but Johnnie went out just a minute
ago with that old whore Fanny Fry
he is a man and he done you wrong.

Frankie went back to the cribhouse
this time it wasn't for fun
for under her old red kimona
she carried Johnnie's 44 gun
she was looking for the man who done her wrong.

Frankie she went to the parlorhouse
she looked in the window so high
and there she saw her Johnnie justa ballin' FannyFry
he was a man and he done her wrong.

Frankie she went to the front door
she rang the front door bell
she said stand back all you pimps and whores
or I'll blow you all to Hell
I want my man who done me wrong.

Frankie went into the parlor
Johnnie commenced to run
she said don't run from the woman you love
or I'll shoot you with your own damn gun
you are a man who done me wrong.

Frankie went into the parlor
Johnnie hollered Frankie don't shoot
but Frankie she out with Johnnie's .44 gun
and three time rootytoottoot
she shot her man who done her wrong.

Roll me over gently roll me over slow
roll me over on my right side
cause my left side's hurting me so
you've killed your man who done you wrong.

Frankie she turned him on his stomach
Frankie she turned him on his side
when she turned him for the third time
he hung his head and died
she killed her man who done her wrong.

- Author unknown

[This version of Frankie and Johnnie came from an old volume of verses American 19th  Century that Dr. Pete Collins obtained from his grandfather.]

The following rendition is the version that was popularized into a song:

Frankie and Johnnie

Frankie and Johnnie were lovers,
Oh, Lordie how they could love!
They swore to be true to each other,
Just as true as the stars above,
He was her man, but he done her wrong.

Frankie and Johnnie went walking
John in his brand new suit.
Then, "oh good Lawd," says Frankie
"Don't my Johnnie look real cute!"
He was her man, but he done her wrong.

Frankie she was a good woman,
And Johnnie was a good man,
And every dollar that she made
Went right into Johnnie's hand,
He was her man, but he done her wrong.

Frankie went down tn the corner,
Just for a bucket of beer.
She said to the fat bartender,
"Has my lovinest man been here7"
He was her man, but he done her wrong.

"I don't want to cause you no trouble,
I don't want to tell you no lie;
But I saw your man an hour ago
With a gal named Alice Bly,
And if he's your man, he's a-doing you wrong."

Frankie looked over the transom,
And found, to her great surprise,
That there on the bed sat Johnnie,
A-lovin' up Alice Bly.
He was her man, but he done her wrong.

Frankie drew back her kimono;
She took out her little forty-four;
Root-a-toot-toot, three times she shot
Right through that hardwood floor,
She shot her man, 'cause he done her wrong.

Roll me over easy,
Roll me over slow,
Roll me on de right side,
'Cause de bullet hurt me so.
I was her man, but I done her wrong.

The judge said to the jury
"It's as plain as plain can be
This woman shot her lover
It's murder in the second degree
He was her man, though he done her wrong.

This story has no moral
This story has no end
This story only goes to show
That there ain't no good in men
They'll do you wrong, just as sure as you're born.

- Unknown author

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