A
Frankie and Johnny were sweethearts Lordy, how they could love
DA
Swore to be true to each other Yeah, true to the skies above
EA
He was her man, wouldn't do her no wrong
A
And Frankie and Johnny went walkin' And Johnny had on a new suit
DA
Yeah, Frankie spent one-hundred dollar notes Just to make her man look cute
EA
He was her man, he wouldn't do her no wrong
A
Frankie went over to the barroom Stopped for a bottle of beer
DA
Said to the old bartender man "Has my lover Johnny man been here?"
EA
"He was my man, Lord, but he'd been doin' me wrong, so wrong."
A
Yeah, Frankie looked over the transom door And there to her great surprise
DA
There sat her lover man Johnny Makin' love to Nellie Bly
EA
He was her man, but he was doin' her wrong
A
Well, Frankie lifted up her kimono dress And she drew (ladaladalala) out a little .44
D
She shot once, twice, three times (three times) she shot him And through that hardwood
A
door
EA
Yeah, she shot her man (yeah he was her man) Well, but he been doin' her wrong yeah
A
He said," roll me over so careful ah Roll me over so slow,
DA
Oh roll me off to my left hand side, Because your bullet hurt me so,
EA
I was your man, but I been doin' you wrong."
(Instrumental & trombone & guitar solo)
Well, they sent for Frankie's mother Come down to Huddie's saloon
To see what's the matter with her boy She come down, Frankie looked up at her
Here what she said:
A
She said, "Oh Mrs. Johnson, oh forgive me please
DA
Well I killed your lovin' son, Johnny But I'm down on my bended knee
EA
I shot your man, 'cause he was doin' me wrong ah'.
A
She said, "I'll forgive you Frankie, She said, I'll forgive you not, not
DA
For killin' lovin' son Johnny, He's the only support that I've got,
EA
'Lord, you shot my man and he was doin' you wrong."
A
Well, the last time I seen Frankie She was a-sittin' in a dungeon cell
DA
She would be there lonely, herself With no one there to care
EA
She shot her man, a-he'd been doin' her wrong, so wrong
A
Well, bring out the rubber tired (hearse) so long You gotta bring out your pony and trap
DA
Yeah, they're gonna take Johnny, Johnny to the cemetery And he ain't never coming back
EA
Well, he was her man Oh, but he been doin' her wrong, so wrong
A
Well, the story ain't got no moral, Lordy But the story ain't got no end
DA
Well, the story only goes to show That there ain't no damn good in men!
EA
She shot her man (he was her man) But he was doin' her wrong
This arrangement for the song is the author's own work and represents their interpretation of the song. You may only use this for private study, scholarship, or research.