Frankie And Johnnie
Sammy Davis Jr. Lyrics


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Frankie and Johnny were sweethearts,
Boy, how they could love!
Swore to be true to each other,
True as the stars above!
'Cause he was her man,
But he done her wrong!

One night Frankie happened to pass by the hotel;
Just casually glanced into a window so high,
And who did she see but her lovin' man
Lovin' up old Nellie Bligh!
She caught her man
Doin' her wrong!

Well, she went round the corner to her favourite pawn shop;
This time she didn't go there for fun!
'Cause when she left, underneath her long red kimono,
She was totin' a forty-four gun!
She was gunnin' for her man
Who was doin' her wrong!

Then back Frankie dashed to that hotel,
Started yankin' the bell!
She said, "Stand back, you madam and floozies,
Or I'll blow each and every one of you straight to hell!
I want my man
Who's done me wrong!".

Johnnie, in panic, mounted the staircase,
Screamin', "Oh Frankie, don't shoot!"
Three times she pulled a trigger on a forty-four gun,
The gun went, "Root-toot-toot!".
She nailed her man
Who'd done her wrong!





So they put her away in a dungeon,
Way up in a dark dingy cell
In the south east corner of a jail,
Where the wind seemed to blow straight from hell!
For killin' her man
Who done her wrong!

But the day Frankie mounted the scaffold,
She was just as calm as any gal could be!
And raising her eyes to heaven she cried,
"Lord, I'm comin' to thee!
I'm sorry I killed my man
Who done me wrong!".

Overall Meaning

The song "Frankie and Johnnie" is a story of betrayal, jealousy, and murder. The song describes the love between Frankie and Johnny as being true and unwavering like the stars above. However, one night Frankie catches Johnny with another woman, Nellie Bligh, and discovers that he was cheating on her. Filled with rage and heartbreak, Frankie goes to a pawn shop and gets a .44 gun then goes back to the hotel where she finds Johnny with another woman. Frankie threatens everyone present and demands to see Johnny. Johnny tries to beg for mercy and runs up the stairs, but Frankie shoots him three times, killing him instantly. As a result, Frankie is sentenced to life in prison, and as she mounts the scaffold, she asks for forgiveness for killing the man who had done her wrong.


The song is based on a real-life incident that happened in St. Louis in 1899. The lyrics of the song have been changed over time, and many different versions of the song exist. Some versions of the song have the lyrics where Johnnie survives the gunshots, and some have Frankie killing herself instead of being hanged. The song has been covered numerous times by various artists, including Elvis Presley, Stevie Wonder, and Bob Dylan.


Line by Line Meaning

Frankie and Johnny were sweethearts,
Frankie and Johnny were lovers


Boy, how they could love!
They had a deep love for each other


Swore to be true to each other,
They made a promise to be loyal to each other


True as the stars above!
Their love was genuine and pure


'Cause he was her man,
Johnny was Frankie's boyfriend


But he done her wrong!
Johnny cheated on Frankie


One night Frankie happened to pass by the hotel;
One night, Frankie walked by a hotel


Just casually glanced into a window so high,
She looked up at a high window


And who did she see but her lovin' man
She saw Johnny


Lovin' up old Nellie Bligh!
Johnny was romantically involved with Nellie Bligh


She caught her man
Frankie saw Johnny with another woman


Doin' her wrong!
Johnny was being unfaithful


Well, she went round the corner to her favourite pawn shop;
Frankie went to her favorite pawn shop


This time she didn't go there for fun!
She was not there to have fun


'Cause when she left, underneath her long red kimono,
When she left, she was carrying something under her kimono


She was totin' a forty-four gun!
She was carrying a .44 caliber gun


She was gunnin' for her man
Frankie had intentions of killing Johnny


Who was doin' her wrong!
She was angry because Johnny was being unfaithful


Then back Frankie dashed to that hotel,
Frankie quickly returned to the hotel


Started yankin' the bell!
She started ringing the bell


She said, "Stand back, you madam and floozies,
She demanded that the women in the hotel step back


Or I'll blow each and every one of you straight to hell!
She threatened to kill them all


I want my man
Frankie wanted Johnny


Who's done me wrong!".
She was angry because Johnny had cheated on her


Johnnie, in panic, mounted the staircase,
Johnny was panicked and went up the staircase


Screamin', "Oh Frankie, don't shoot!"
Johnny pleaded with Frankie not to shoot


Three times she pulled a trigger on a forty-four gun,
Frankie fired her .44 caliber gun three times


The gun went, "Root-toot-toot!".
The gunshots were heard as "root-toot-toot"


She nailed her man
Frankie shot and killed Johnny


Who'd done her wrong!
Johnny had been unfaithful and cheated on Frankie


So they put her away in a dungeon,
Frankie was put in jail


Way up in a dark dingy cell
She was put in a dark and damp cell


In the south east corner of a jail,
Her cell was in the southeast corner of the jail


Where the wind seemed to blow straight from hell!
The conditions in her cell were terrible


For killin' her man
She was in jail for killing Johnny


Who done her wrong!
Johnny had cheated on her


But the day Frankie mounted the scaffold,
The day Frankie was taken to be executed


She was just as calm as any gal could be!
Frankie was surprisingly calm


And raising her eyes to heaven she cried,
She looked up to the sky and said


"Lord, I'm comin' to thee!
She said she was going to heaven


I'm sorry I killed my man
Frankie apologized for killing Johnny


Who done me wrong!".
She acknowledged that Johnny had cheated on her




Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: PD TRADITIONAL, SANFORD SCHMIDT

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@gwynnielsen5081

I love Sammy and everything that he did. A truly great performer.

@PickleMick90

so hard to find this version, i have it on CD but trying to find it when your else where outside your CD collection is near impossible
thanks fr the upload, brilliant

@issacbanks7498

#JeffPiegari I love this song!

@issacbanks7498

#JP this is my favorite song "Frankie & Johnnie" by Sammy Davis Jr.

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