Frankie And Johnny

Album: various (1904)
Play Video
  • Frankie and Johnny was sweethearts
    at least thats the way the story goes
    Frankie bought everything for Johnny
    from his sports car to his Ivy League clothes

    He was a man alright, oh but he was doing her wrong
    just to show you what can happen

    A friend came running to Frankie
    she said you know I wouldn't tell you no lie
    I saw your man riding in his Jaguar
    with a chick named Nellie Blye

    He was your man honey, oh and he was doing you wrong
    let me tell the story

    Frankie ran around the corner
    and peeked in a swinging place
    there she saw Johnny with the woman
    he had his arms around her waist

    aw...he was a man alright but Frankie could see that he was
    doing her wrong. And oh let me tell you

    Frankie reached down in her pocketbook
    and up with a long forty-four
    she shot once, twice, three times and
    Johnny fell to the hard wood floor

    aw...he was a man alright but Frankie shot him because he was
    doing her wrong

    But the last thing he told her was
    Frankie, you know I love you
    Why? Honey why did you do that?
    Frankie.. I was telling her about you
    Frankie.. you know I love you
    Frankie.. you know that I love you
    yeah, yeah , yeah, yeah
    Now Frankie, you know darn well that I love you
    Frankie.. I'll always love you baby
    Frankie.. you know I can't do without you
    Frankie.. you know I love you
    and I know, I know I was doing
    you wrong..wrong..wrong..wrong
    Now Frankie..you know darn well that I love you
    Frankie.... Lyrics from a song in Public Domain

Comments: 8

  • Terry from Kent, WashingtonJust watched Red-Headed Woman starring Jean Harlow from 1932. In one scene, this song is playing on a phonograph. It is creditted to be sung by Cliff Edwards. I just wanted to find out just how old this song was.

  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn this day in 1966 {April 8th} Elvis' twentieth featured film, 'Frankie and Johnny', premiered at the Victoria Theatre in London, England...
    At the time Elvis' "Frankie and Johnny" was in it's first week on the United Kingdom's Official Top 40 Singles chart as position #36, four weeks later it would peak at #21 {for 1 week} and it spent eight weeks on the Top 40 chart...
    Between 1957 and 2002 'The King' had sixteen #1 records on the U.K. Singles chart, in addition from 1956 to 1969 he had nine 'just misses' when nine of his records peaked at #2...
    He had fourteen posthumous records make the UK Singles chart.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn October 5th 1963, the 'Sam Cooke and Dion' tour appeared at the Keil Opera House in St. Louis, Missouri...
    At the time Sam Cooke's version of "Frankie and Johnny" was at #47 on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart, it was also its 11th and final week on the chart; one month and five days earlier on September 1st it had peaked at #14 {for 2 weeks}...
    It reached #4 on Billboard's R&B Singles chart...
    His next three releases; "Little Red Rooster", "Good News", and "Good Times"; would all peak at #11 on the Top 100 chart, and they each spent 10 weeks on the chart...
    Sadly, Mr. Cooke passed away on December 11th, 1964 at the young age of 33...
    May he R.I.P.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyBrook Benton came the closest to matching Cooke's success with his version, he peaked at No. 20 in 1961 while Elvis reached No. 25 in 1966!!! {Sam peaked at No. 14}
  • Musicmama from New York, NyThis is a great song. Even though it's traditional, I think of this as Sam Cooke's song in much the same way that I think of "Hey Joe" as Jimi Hendrix's song. Yes, Sam did the best--and most original and unique version because, well, he was Sam Cooke. Nobody can be compared to him.





    You may be interested to know that Laura Nyro also did a version of this song on her "New York Tendaberry" album.
  • Memphis "piano" Joe from Los Angeles, CaYOUTUBE...I just completed a piano-instrumental video of Frankie and Johnny. Search at YouTube for - - Memphis Piano Joe Frankie and Johnny - - or cut and paste into your browser:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzpGJqECAaY
    Thanks, and hope you like it,
    Joe
  • Pie from Vegas, United Statesi rule!!!
  • Htrdj from Htdjyt, Ilthis song is amazing Sam Cooke is a legend
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Trans Soul Rebels: Songs About Transgenderism

Trans Soul Rebels: Songs About TransgenderismSong Writing

A history of songs dealing with transgender issues, featuring Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Morrissey and Green Day.

Melanie

MelanieSongwriter Interviews

The singer-songwriter Melanie talks about her spiritual awakening at Woodstock, "Brand New Key," and why songwriting is an art, not a craft.

90210 to Buffy to Glee: How Songs Transformed TV

90210 to Buffy to Glee: How Songs Transformed TVSong Writing

Shows like Dawson's Creek, Grey's Anatomy and Buffy the Vampire Slayer changed the way songs were heard on TV, and produced some hits in the process.

Robert DeLeo of Stone Temple Pilots

Robert DeLeo of Stone Temple PilotsSongwriter Interviews

Stone Temple Pilots bass player Robert DeLeo names the songs that have most connected with fans and tells the stories behind tracks from their Tiny Music album.

Matthew Wilder - "Break My Stride"

Matthew Wilder - "Break My Stride"They're Playing My Song

Wilder's hit "Break My Stride" had an unlikely inspiration: a famous record mogul who rejected it.

David Sancious

David SanciousSongwriter Interviews

Keyboard great David Sancious talks about his work with Sting, Seal, Springsteen, Clapton and Aretha, and explains what quantum physics has to do with making music.