When Benton was young he enjoyed gospel music and wrote songs and in 1948 he went to New York to pursue his music career.
He was a member of several gospel groups including "The Langfordairies", "The Jerusalem Stars", and "The Golden Gate Quartet".
After returning to his home state he joined a R&B singing group, "the Sandmen", and soon went back to New York to try for a big break. Eventually the record company decided to drop The Sandmen and push Brook as a solo artist.
Benton wrote songs for artists such as Nat King Cole, Clyde McPhatter, and Roy Hamilton. Soon he released his first minor hit A Million Miles From Nowhere, and later he joined the Mercury label, which would later bring him big success.
In 1952 he got his big break with It's Just a Matter of Time and Endlessly.
It's Just a Matter of Time made it to #3 on the U.S. Pop charts, while Endlessly made it to #12 . Both hits were written by Benton himself.
Benton had many #1 hits including Rainy Night in Georgia and Hotel Happiness. According to Songfacts, his version of the blues standard The Boll Weevil Song has the unique distinction of being the first #1 song on Billboard's Easy Listening chart.
Altogether, Benton had 38 hit singles through out his career. His last album was "Fools Rush In", released posthumously in 2005. He died on April 9, 1988.
Frankie
Brook Benton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She asked for a glass of beer she said, hey
Bartender has my johnny been here he's my man but
He's done me wrong the bartender said
Frankie you know I won't tell you no lie
He left here about a minute ago with a gal named
Alice fry he's your man but he's doing you wrong
Frankie was a good little woman surely everybody
Knows she paid one hundred dollars for johnny's
New suit of clothes she loved her man but
He done her wrong then frankie went down broadway
With a razor in her hand she said, stand back
All you women I'm looking for my cheating man
Yes, he's my man but he's done me wrong
It was on a Friday morning about a half past
Nine o'clock frankie pulled her .44 and fired
Three fatal shots she shot her man cause
He done her wrong why don't you run, frankie
They said, frankie why don't you run cause here comes
The chief of police with the .44 smokeless gun
You killed your man we know he done you wrong
Yeah, he done you wrong, frankie you
Should've shot him forty times I'm a witness, frankie
The lyrics of Frankie and Johnny tell the tragic and violent story of betrayal and revenge. The singer, Frankie, is a vulnerable and naive woman who loves her man, Johnny, despite his infidelities. She goes to the bar looking for him and finds out from the bartender that he left with another woman. Feeling betrayed and angry, Frankie takes matters into her own hands and goes after Johnny with a razor. She finds him and shoots him three times, ultimately killing him. The lyrics are filled with emotion, pain, and sorrow as the tragic events unfold.
The song showcases the tragic consequences of jealousy and betrayal. Frankie's love for Johnny is deep but his infidelity causes her immense pain and leads her to commit a heinous crime. The lyrics emphasize the societal norms of the time, where women were expected to submit to men's wishes and accept their treatment, rather than seek revenge. However, the song highlights how societal norms can lead to suppression, and when pushed too far, can lead to violent acts.
Line by Line Meaning
Little frankie went down to the barroom
Frankie visited a bar
She asked for a glass of beer she said, hey
Frankie ordered a beer and called out to the bartender
Bartender has my johnny been here he's my man but
Frankie inquired if the bartender had seen Johnny, her boyfriend
He's done me wrong the bartender said
The bartender informed Frankie that Johnny had cheated on her
Frankie you know I won't tell you no lie
The bartender promised Frankie that he was telling the truth
He left here about a minute ago with a gal named Alice fry
The bartender revealed that Johnny had left with another woman named Alice Fry
He's your man but he's doing you wrong
The bartender acknowledged that Johnny was Frankie's boyfriend but was unfaithful
Frankie was a good little woman surely everybody knows
Frankie had a good reputation in the community
She paid one hundred dollars for johnny's New suit of clothes
Frankie had spent $100 on a new suit of clothes for Johnny
She loved her man but he done her wrong
Frankie was still in love with Johnny despite his infidelity
Then frankie went down broadway with a razor in her hand
Frankie armed herself with a razor and walked down Broadway
She said, stand back all you women I'm looking for my cheating man
Frankie warned other women to stay away as she searched for Johnny
Yes, he's my man but he's done me wrong
Frankie acknowledged that Johnny was her man but he had betrayed her
It was on a Friday morning about a half past nine o'clock
The incident occurred on a Friday at 9:30 am
Frankie pulled her .44 and fired three fatal shots
Frankie shot and killed Johnny with her .44 gun
She shot her man cause he done her wrong
Frankie killed Johnny as revenge for his infidelity
Why don't you run, frankie
People asked Frankie to flee the scene
They said, frankie why don't you run cause here comes the chief of police with the .44 smokeless gun
People advised Frankie to escape as the chief of police approached with a gun
You killed your man we know he done you wrong yeah, he done you wrong, frankie
The authorities accused Frankie of killing Johnny but acknowledged that he was unfaithful to her
You should've shot him forty times I'm a witness, frankie
Someone suggested that Frankie should have shot Johnny more than three times, and offered to testify for her
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: ALEX KARGER, BEN GOTTLIEB, FRED WEISMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Daniel Burns
this song went to #20 on the pop charts in 1961!!!
Jim Hilliker
Never heard this one, but I enjoy listening to Brook Benton sing, I like his style. Thanks for this one.
Raymond Malcuit
Brook Benton's Version Of This Song, Went To Number 20 On The Billboard Hot-100 Chart In 1961.