Frankie and Albert
Joel Mabus Lyrics


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When Frankie and Albert got married
Oh lord, how they did love
Whatd they do? Swore to be true
True as the stars above
Now Albert's gone and he won't come home

Frankie went down to the barroom
To fill up her little beer can
She said, Mister Bartender,
Have you seen my lovin' man
Albert's gone and he won't come home

Well, I don't want to cause you no trouble
But I ain't gonna tell you no lie
I saw your man about an hour ago
Makin time with Nancy Fry
Your Albert's gone and he won't come home

Frankie went down to the pawnshop
Bought a big Colt 44
Stuck it inside her kimono
And marched up to Miss Nancy's door
Cause Albert's gone and he won't come home

Well, Albert seen her comin'
Out the back door he did scoot
Frankie pulled out that revolver
And went rooty toot toot toot toot
Albert's gone and he won't come home

Roll me over Frankie
Roll me over slow
Roll me on my left side
Cause my right side hurts me so
Alberts gone and he won't come home

All of them rubber tired hearses
All of them rubber tired hacks
Took old Albert to the graveyard
But they failed to bring him back
Albert's gone and he won't come home

It was a hot day in the courthouse
They ran the big lectric fan
The judge said, Frankie, I'm letting you go
But don't shoot that gun again
Cause Albert's gone and he won't come home

When Frankie and Albert got married
Oh lord, how they did love
Whatd they do? Swore to be true




True as the stars above
Now Albert's gone and he won't come home

Overall Meaning

The song Frankie and Albert is a traditional American song that has been covered by many artists over the years. The song tells the story of Frankie and Albert, a couple who were once in love but are now experiencing a falling out. Frankie goes looking for her man at the bar and discovers that he's seeing another woman named Nancy Fry. Filled with anger and resentment, Frankie buys a Colt 44 and heads to Nancy's house where she engages in a gunfight with Albert after finding him hiding in Nancy's room. Ultimately, Albert is killed, and Frankie is taken to court for the crime. In the end, she is released, but the truth remains that Albert is gone, and he will never come home.


The song is a classic tale of love, betrayal, and revenge that has resonated with people for generations. The music and lyrics work together to create a sense of foreboding, with the melody slowly building in intensity as the story unfolds. Each verse tells a different aspect of the story, all tied together with the theme of lost love and the consequences that come with it. The song's final lines serve as a poignant reminder of the power of love and how it can ultimately lead to tragedy.


Line by Line Meaning

When Frankie and Albert got married
Frankie and Albert were in love and got married.


Oh lord, how they did love
Their love was strong and passionate.


Whatd they do? Swore to be true
They promised to be faithful to each other.


True as the stars above
Their promise was as sincere as the stars in the sky.


Now Albert's gone and he won't come home
Albert has left and will not return.


Frankie went down to the barroom
Frankie went to a bar.


To fill up her little beer can
She wanted to have a drink.


She said, Mister Bartender,
She addressed the bartender.


Have you seen my lovin' man
She asked if anyone had seen Albert.


Well, I don't want to cause you no trouble
The bartender did not want any problems.


But I ain't gonna tell you no lie
The bartender was truthful.


I saw your man about an hour ago
The bartender saw Albert recently.


Makin time with Nancy Fry
Albert was with another woman named Nancy Fry.


Well Albert seen her comin'
Albert saw Frankie coming.


Out the back door he did scoot
Albert ran out the back door to avoid Frankie.


Frankie pulled out that revolver
Frankie grabbed a Colt 44.


And went rooty toot toot toot toot
Frankie fired shots from her revolver.


Roll me over Frankie
Albert was injured and wanted Frankie to help him.


Roll me over slow
He asked her to be gentle.


Roll me on my left side
He requested to be rolled on his left side.


Cause my right side hurts me so
His right side was hurting him.


All of them rubber tired hearses
They used hearses with rubber tires to transport Albert's body.


All of them rubber tired hacks
They used hacks with rubber tires to transport Albert's body.


Took old Albert to the graveyard
Albert was buried in a graveyard.


But they failed to bring him back
Albert could not be brought back to life.


It was a hot day in the courthouse
It was a hot day when Frankie was in court.


They ran the big lectric fan
They used a large electric fan to keep cool in court.


The judge said, Frankie, I'm letting you go
The judge decided to let Frankie go free.


But don't shoot that gun again
The judge warned Frankie not to use her gun again.


Cause Albert's gone and he won't come home
Albert has left and will never return.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOHN S HURT

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@j.alberth

Frankie, she was a good little girl
Everybody knows
They say she spent forty-one dollars
For Albert, a suit of clothes
That's my man, he ain't a-treatin' me wrong

Albert went down to the saloon
He didn't stand in no fear
Sittin' down there, smokin' a big cigar
Womens all buyin' their beer
You is my man, now you're a-doin' me wrong
Frankie went down to the saloon
She called for a can of beer
Whispered to the party-tender
"Has my man, Albert Martin, been here?"
That's my man, he ain't a-treatin' me wrong

The party-tender told Frankie
"Ain't a-gonna tell you no lie
He left here just a few minutes ago
With a girl they call Alice Fly."
That's my man, now he's doin' me wrong

Frankie broke down Alice Fly's home
She didn't make no alarm
That's where she found her man Albert
Layin' in Alice's arms
You is my man, well, and you doin' me wrong

Albert told Frankie
Told her once or twice
"If I ever catch you, myself a-checkin'
I'm surely goin' take your life."
He treated me wrong, now he's dead and gone



All comments from YouTube:

@bensturm3525

Straight to the top of my playlist.

@Beargrizzly76

"Ain't Gonna Lie To You" is now one of my all time favourite albums, I just love the rawness of it. A little story - maybe true, maybe not... Last year, when I'd still not heard of this man, I bought a Harmony Archtone H1215 guitar from a guy who restores vintage American guitars. It came with the story that the guy he bought it from said it had belonged to Joe. To cut it short, the guitar on the cover of "Ain't gonna lie" is now in my house along with a vinyl copy of the album.

@nathanael8612

That is so cool brother an sweet, God bless you brother:)

@v_lad8559

Nice!

@sajidswindon

I had to listen to this song again after first hearing it on Mississippi Grind soundtrack. It feels like Callicott's soul is lamenting.

@jblucher7623

Same

@sajidswindon

@Gilson Rocha I do not read this language nor there is a translation of your reply available on yt.

@gilsonrocha1418

@sajidswindon
I had the same feeling, literally the same. When I heard that song in the background thinking, what song is that? Who is this God? And then, I know him, Joe Callicott or rather, they ... Joe Callicott, Frankie and Albert. I started to understand and research more about how he lived and how his last moments were in Mississippi. Anyway, big hug from Brazil.


(I used the google translator to answer you but I believe that the verbal agreement did not go as expected. Hugs!)

@sajidswindon

@Gilson Rocha thanks for the translator. I know how to use the Google translator but yt does not allow copying the text. Thanks for the message. Mississippi grind is a great movie with a thoughtful soundtrack. I am sure a lot of audience of the movie had the reaction, I summed up. God bless, from Pakistan.

@coravisser727

Respect for this bluesman he was and his music so pure , real blues.

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