Well, frankie and johnny were sweethearts
Lordy, how they could love
But they swore to be true to each other
Yeah, just true as skies above
He was her man, he wouldn't do her wrong
Well, frankie and johnny went walkin'
Johnny had on a new suit
Yeah, frankie spent one-hundred dollars
Just to make her man look cute
He was her man, he wouldn't do her wrong
"well, frankie, see i'm gonna leave you
But i won't be very long
Don't you wait up for me honey
Don't you worry while i'm gone
I'm your man, i wouldn't do you wrong"
So frankie walked down to the huddie saloon
And she called for a bottle of beer
And she said to the old bartender man
"has my lovin' johnny man been here?
He was my man, but he's been doin' me wrong, so wrong"
"well, see i don't wanna cause you no trouble
Well, i don't wanna tell you no lies
I seen your johnny
Makin' love with nellie bly
He was your man, but he's been doin' you wrong, so wrong"
So frankie walked over to the transom door
And then to her great surprise
There sat her lovin' johnny
Makin' love with nellie bly
He was her man, but he was doin' her wrong, so wrong
So then she lifted up her kimono dress
Drew out a little .44
Rum-tum-tum, three times she shot
Right through that hardwood door
She shot her man, but he was doin' her wrong, so wrong
He said, "roll me over so careful
Hey, roll me over so slow
Roll me onto my left side
Your bullet sure hurt me so
I was your man, but i been doin' you wrong, so wrong"
Well, they sent for frankie's mother
She come down to huddie's saloon
Wond'rin what's a-matter with her boy
"oh, mrs. johnson, see what your son has got
No thumpin', no foot-stompin'
Your lovin' johnny boy been shot
Was your man, but i was doin' you wrong, so wrong"
She said, "oh, mrs. johnson
Oh, forgive me please
Well i k**ed your lovin' son, johnny
But i'm down on my bended knees
I shot your man, but he was doin' me wrong, so wrong"
She said, "i'll forgive you frankie"
She said, "i'll forgive you not
Oh, you k**ed my lovin' son, johnny
The only support i've got
'cause you shot my man an' he was doin' you wrong, so wrong"
Well, the last time i seen frankie
She was sittin' in a dungeon cell
Lord, a-weepin', lord, a-moanin'
'cause her soul was goin' down to hell
She shot her man, he was doin' her wrong, so wrong
She said, "now bring out your rubber-tired hearses
Oh, you bring out your pony and trap
I'm gonna take my johnny to the graveyard
I ain't a-gonna bring him back
He was my man, but he was doin' me wrong, so wrong"
Well, this story ain't had no moral
Well, this story ain't got no end
Well this story only goes to show
Ain't no damn good in you men
She shot her man 'cause he was doin' her wrong