Callicott was born in Nesbit, Mississippi, USA. He recorded in 1929 with Garfield Akers and in 1930 solo for Brunswick. Arhoolie Records recorded Callicott commercially in the mid-1960s. Some of his 1967 recordings (recorded by the music historian, George Mitchell) were re-released in 2003, on the Fat Possum record label. His best known recordings are "Great Long Ways From Home", "Hoist Your Window and Let Your Curtain Down" and "Fare Thee Well Blues.""
He served as a mentor to the guitarist Kenny Brown when Brown was ten years old.
Joe Callicott is buried in the Mount Olive Baptist Church Cemetery in Nesbit. On April 29, 1995, a memorial headstone was placed on his grave arranged by the Mt. Zion Memorial Fund with the help of Kenny Brown and financed by Chris Strachwitz, Arhoolie Records and John Fogerty. Callicott's original marker was a simple paving stone which read simply "Joe". This was subsequently donated by his family to the Delta Blues Museum in Clarksdale, Mississippi. At the ceremony Arhoolie Records presented Callicott's wife Doll with a check for his past royalties
Frankie and Albert
Mississippi Joe Callicott Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
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
Mississippi Joe Callicott's song "Frankie and Albert" is a classic blues song that tells a story of a woman named Frankie who loves her man Albert. The first verse introduces us to Frankie, who the singer describes as a good little girl. Frankie is depicted as having spent a significant amount, forty-one dollars, to buy Albert a suit of clothes. The second verse tells us that Albert went down to the saloon, where he was smoked a big cigar and had women buying him drinks. Frankie is introduced again in the third verse. She goes to the saloon looking for Albert and asks the bartender if he has seen him. The bartender tells Frankie that Albert had left with a woman named Alice Fly.
Line by Line Meaning
Frankie, she was a good little girl
Frankie was generally considered to be a well-behaved young woman
Everybody knows
Her reputation was widely known
They say she spent forty-one dollars
For Albert, a suit of clothes
Frankie once bought her boyfriend Albert an expensive suit for $41
That's my man, he ain't a-treatin' me wrong
Frankie considered Albert to be her man and believed he was faithful to her
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
Albert was at the saloon, unafraid and smoking a cigar while women bought beers
You is my man, now you're a-doin' me wrong
Frankie accused Albert of betraying her
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?"
Frankie went to the saloon and discreetly asked the bartender whether Albert had been there
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."
The bartender revealed that Albert had left with a woman named Alice Fly
That's my man, now he's doin' me wrong
Frankie was upset that Albert had cheated on her with Alice Fly
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
Frankie went to Alice Fly's house and found Albert in her arms
You is my man, well, and you doin' me wrong
Frankie accused Albert of continuing to betray her
Albert told Frankie
Told her once or twice,
"If I ever catch you, myself a-checkin'
I'm surely goin' take your life."
Albert threatened to kill Frankie if she ever checked up on him again
He treated me wrong, now he's dead and gone
Frankie killed Albert in retaliation for his infidelity and mistreatment of her
Contributed by Thomas O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@despinaluigini7991
i like these old blues... execellent work
@MyMoppet52
Thanks so much, dear lady. Thank you for listening and also for sharing. I love old blues! I love new blues too, but old is my "baby". My best to you & hope you have a wonderful weekend!
@despinaluigini7991
MyMoppet52 Good weekend to you too !!!!
@fetermcblues
ye enjoyed this much .. beautiful ..thanks !
@MyMoppet52
***** So glad you enjoyed this. I could have listened to many more verses...Wishing you a lovely weekend. I get to see my grandson & daughter, so this weekend is special. My best, Moppet
@MyMoppet52
Old blues...great sound. Enjoy!