Frankie and Johnny, a song  
adapted by Johnny Hughes
 
Many versions of this ballad have been written. It started out as Frankie and Albert about a murder in either Kansas City or St. Louis around 1890. It was a staple of early Vaudeville.

Frankie was a Vegas singer. Johnny was her poker playing man.
Every silver dollar Frankie made went straight through Johnny's hand.
He was her man, but he done her wrong.

Frankie went to Bellagio, got Johnny a brand new suit.
Cost four thousand dollars. Made Johnny look cute.
He was her man, he done her wrong.

Frankie went down to the Nuggett, called for a thimble of gin.
She says to the fat bartender, "Has my lovin' Johnny been in?
I can't believe, he been doing me wrong."

"Ain't gonna tell you no story, ain't gonna tell no lie.
Johnny left here an hour ago with a coke whore named Ella Fly.
He is your man, but he is doing you wrong."

Frankie ran to the pawn shop, she didn't go there for fun.
Turned in her doorknob diamonds, she took our a forty-four gun.
He was her man, but he done her wrong.

Frankie spied 'em in Binion's. It really rang her bell.
She yelled,"Stand back all you gamblers or I'll send you to hell.
There's my man. He done me wrong."

She threw back her black leather jacket where she packed her old forty-four.
Rooty-toot-toot, three times she did shoot, right through the casino door.
He was her man, but he done her wrong.

The first shot Johnny staggered, the second shot, he fell.
Third shot got him in the heart. There was a new man's face in hell.
He was her man, but he done her wrong.

Bring out your longest limos. Roses by the rack.
Eight men going to he bone orchard. Only seven coming back.
He was her man, but he done her wrong.

Judge said,"Remember Sandy Murphy, this is plain as plain can be,
The woman put daylight through the man, it's murder in the second degree,
He was her man, but he done her wrong."

The jury went out on Frankie, sat under an electric fan.
Came back and said, "You are a free woman, go kill yourself another man."
He was her man, but he done her wrong.

Frankie looked up and down Fremont Street, as far as she could see.
All she could hear was a two-string fiddle playing "Nearer, My God, to Thee."
He was her man, but he done her wrong.

This song originally appeared on Bet-the-Pot.com