Frankie and Johnny (also called Frankie and Albert) is a bluegrass murder ballad. At least 256 different versions of it have been recorded since the early 20th century, by artists including Lead Belly, Mississippi John Hurt, Charlie Poole, Taj Mahal, and Bob Dylan. The story was also adapted into a several films, including Her Man (1930, starring Helen Twelvetrees), Frankie and Johnnie (1936, starring Helen Morgan) and Frankie and Johnny (1966, starring Elvis Presley), as well as a play by Terrence McNally, "Frankie and Johnny at the Clair de Lune". Bluegrass has three principal meanings, the second two both deriving from the first listed. ... Murder Ballads are a specific subgenre of the broadsheet ballad, a narrative poem that tells a tale of murder. ... (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999 in the... Leadbelly (January 29, 1885 - December 6, 1949) was an influential blues singer and guitarist. ... Mississippi John Smith Hurt (March 8, 1892 , Teoc, Carroll County, Mississippi - November 2, 1966, Grenada, Mississippi) was an influential blues singer and guitarist. ... Charlie Poole (March 22, 1892 - May 21, 1931) was an American banjo player. ... Taj Mahal (born May 17, 1940, New York City) is a United States blues musician. ... Bob Dylan (born Robert Allen Zimmerman on May 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter, musician and poet whose enduring contributions to American song are often compared, in fame and influence, to those of Stephen Foster, Irving Berlin, Woody Guthrie, and Hank Williams. ... Helen Morgan was an born 2 August 1900 in rural Danville, Illinois. ... Frankie and Johnny is a 1966 Western film and comedy starring Elvis Presley as a riverboat gambler. ... Elvis redirects here. ... Terrence McNally is an openly gay American playwright. ...

The song tells the story of a woman, Frankie, who discovers that her husband Albert (or Johnny) is having an affair with a woman named Ellie Fly (or Nellie Bligh). She shoots him dead, is arrested, and in most versions is executed. The refrain common to most versions is: "He was her man, but he was doing her wrong." Many versions open with the quatrain: "Frankie and Johnny were sweethearts/Lordy, how they could love/They vowed to love one another/Underneath the stars above." A common conclusion is: "This story has no moral/This story has no end/This story only goes to show/That there ain't no good in men." Hughie Cannon, the composer of "Won't You Come Home Bill Bailey", obtained a copyright on the melody in 1904 under the title "He Done Me Wrong", but the song seems to predate this. Wont You Come Home Bill Bailey is a popular song, often commonly referred to as simply Bill Bailey. ...

The story apparently refers to a murder with took place in St. Louis, Missouri, on October 19, 1899. 22-year-old dancer Frankie Baker stabbed (or shot) her 17-year-old lover Allen "Al" Britt, who was having a relationship with a woman named Alice Pryor. Britt died of his wounds two days later.[1] On trial, Baker claimed that Britt had attacked her with a knife and that she acted in self-defence; she was acquitted and died in a Portland mental institution in 1950.[2] Some researchers claim that the song was in circulation before the Baker murder, and that it dates from roughly the time of the Civil War. It may have originally referred to Frances Silver, who was executed in 1832 for the murder of her husband Charles Silver in Burke County, North Carolina. Flag Seal Nickname: Gateway City, Gateway to the West, or Mound City Location Location in the state of Missouri Coordinates , Government Country State County United States Missouri Independent City Mayor Francis G. Slay (D) Geographical characteristics Area     City 66. ... Official language(s) None Capital Jefferson City Largest city Kansas City Largest metro area St. ... October 19 is the 292nd day of the year (293rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1899 (MDCCCXCIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... A contemporary dancer rehearsing in a dance studio Dance generally refers to human movement either used as a form of expression or presented in a social, spiritual or performance setting. ... Self-defense usually refers to the use of violence to protect oneself and is a possible justification for this otherwise illegal act. ... Flag Seal Nickname: City of Roses, Stumptown, Bridgetown Location Location in Multnomah County and the state of Oregon Coordinates , Government Country State County United States Oregon Multnomah County Mayor Tom Potter Geographical characteristics Area     City 145. ... A psychiatric hospital (also called a mental hospital or asylum) is a hospital specializing in the treatment of persons with mental illness. ... 1950 (MCML) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... A civil war is a war in which parties within the same culture, society or nationality fight for political power or control of an area. ... Burke County is a county located in the state of North Carolina. ... Official language(s) English Capital Raleigh Largest city Charlotte Area  Ranked 28th  - Total 53,865 sq. ...

The movie "A Prairie Home Companion (film)" features a version of Frankie and Johnny. The last stanza is not sung in the movie, but it offers an excellent summary of the movie plot. A Prairie Home Companion (previously known as The Last Broadcast) is a comedy film directed by Robert Altman, it was released on June 9, 2006. ...

External links

• A version of Frankie and Johnny sung by B. F. Anderson.
• Allen Britt's grave on findagrave.com
• The movie 'A Prairie Home Companion' featured a rendition sung by Lindsay Lohan, lyrics by Garrison Keillor

Lyrics

Frankie And Johnny

Performed by Johnny Cash

Frankie and Johnny were sweethearts, Lordy how they did love. They swore to be true to each other, As true as the stars above. He was her man, He wouldn't do her wrong.

Frankie went down to the corner Just to get a bucket of beer. She said, "Mr. Bartender Has my lovin' Johnny been here? He's my man, he wouldn't do me wrong."

"I ain't gonna tell you no story, I ain't gonna tell you no lie, Johnny left here 'bout an hour ago With a gal named Nellie Bly. If he's your man, he's doin' you wrong."

Frankie looked over the transom, And much to her surprise, There on a cot sat Johnny Making love to Nellie Bly. She said, "He's my man, But he's doin' me wrong."

Frankie pulled back her kimono, Pulled out her old .44, Root-a-toot-toot that gal did shoot Right through that hardwood door. She shot her man Because he was doin' her wrong.

Roll out your rubber tired buggy, Roll out your rubber tired hack, She's taking her man to the graveyard But she ain't gonna' bring him back. She shot her man Because he was doin' her wrong.

This story has no moral, This story has no end, This story goes to show That you can't put your trust in men. She shot her man Because he was doin' her wrong.