Cat. #0470 (MFH #193) - As sung by Mrs. Oakley Fox, Crocker, Missouri on January 25, 1960
VERSE 1
Frankie and Johnny were lovers
O Lordy, how they could love
They swore t' be true to each other
Just as true as th stars above
He was her man but he done her wrong
VERSE 2
Frankie and Johnny went walking
Johnny had a brand new suit
Johnny paid a hundred dollars
Just to make her man look cute
He was her man but he done her wrong
VERSE 3
Johnny said, I've got ta leave you
But I won't be very long
Don't you wait up for me, honey
Nor worry while I'm gone
He was her man but he done her wrong
VERSE 4
Frankie went down to th corner
Stopped into buy her some beer
Says to th fat bartender,
Has my Johnny man been here
He was her man but he done her wrong
VERSE 5
Well, I ain't going to tell you no story
Ain't going to tell you no lie
Johnny went by 'bout an hour ago
With a girl named Nellie Bly
He is your man but he's doing you wrong
VERSE 6
Frankie went home in a hurry
She did'nt go there for fun
She hurried home to get ahold
Of Johnny's shootin' gun
He was her men but he's doing her wrong
VERSE 7
Frankie took a cab, at th corner
Says, driver step on this cab
She was just a desperate woman
Gettin' two timed by her man
He was her man but he's doin' her wrong
VERSE 8
Frankie got out at south Clark Street
Looked in a window, so high
Saw Johnny man, a lovin' up
That high brow, Nellie Bly
He was her man but he done her wrong
VERSE 9
Johnny saw Frankie a comin'
Out th back door he did scoot
But Frankie took aim with her pistol
An' th gun went roota-toot-toot
He was her man but he done her wrong
VERSE 10
O, roll me over so easy
Roll me over so slow
Roll me over easy boys
Cause my wounds they hurt me so
I was her man but I done her wrong
VERSE 11
Bring out your long black coffin
Bring out your funeral clothes
Johnny's gone an' cashed his checks
To th graveyard, Johnny goes
He was her man but he done her wrong
VERSE 12
Drive out your rubber tired carriage
Drive out your rubber tired hack
There's twelve men going to th graveyard
But a'leven comin' back
He was her man but he done her wrong
VERSE 13
Th sheriff arrested poor Frankie
He took 'er ta jail th same day
He locked her up in th dungeon cell
An' he threw th key away
He was her man but he done her wrong