<… Read Full Bio ↴The definitive Afroamerican gospel group in the jubilee quartet style.
Founded as the Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet in Norfolk, Virginia in 1934 by A. C. “Eddie” Griffin, Robert “Peg” Ford, Henry Owens, and Bill Johnson, they began as a traditional jubilee quartet, combining the clever arrangements associated with barbershop quartets with rhythms borrowed from the blues and jazz.
The makeup of the group changed over the years, as some members were drafted during the war and new members were brought in to replace those who had retired or left to join other groups. William Langford joined the group when Griffin left in 1935 and Orlandus Wilson replaced Ford the same year. Clyde Riddick replaced Langford in 1938, Johnson left in 1948 to join “The Jubalaires” and Owens left the group later to become a preacher and solo artist. Riddick remained with the group until his retirement in 1995 and Wilson until his death in 1998.
The Gates had a broad repertoire of styles—from Owens’ mournful, understated approach in songs such as Anyhow or Hush, Somebody’s Calling My Name, to the group’s highly syncopated arrangements in Shadrach, Meshach and Abendigo. Like The Mills Brothers of popular music, they would often include vocal special effects in their songs, imitating train sounds in songs such as Golden Gate Gospel Train. Langford often sang lead, using his ability to range from baritone to falsetto, while Johnson narrated in a hip syncopated style that became the hallmark for the group.
Frankie and johnny
The Golden Gate Quartet Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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;
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!".
The Golden Gate Quartet's song "Frankie and Johnny" is a rendition of the infamous American ballad about a woman who took the life of her cheating lover. The song is a tragic story of love gone wrong, infidelity, jealousy, and ultimately, violent death. Frankie and Johnny are two lovers who swore to be true to each other, only for Johnny to betray Frankie by cheating on her with Nellie Bligh. Frankie caught Johnny in the act, and in a fit of jealousy, went to a pawn shop and bought a 44-gun. She went back to the hotel where Johnny was with Nellie and shot him three times, killing him instantly.
The lyrics are full of imagery that paints a vivid picture of the events that led to Frankie's fateful decision. The line, “She was totin' a forty-four gun! She was gunnin' for her man, who was doin' her wrong,” describes Frankie's anger and determination to exact revenge on the man who betrayed her. When Johnny mounted the staircase, screaming, "Oh Frankie, don't shoot!" Frankie pulled the trigger three times, and the gun went, "Root-toot-toot!” The song paints a tragic picture, showing that love can take us to great heights of happiness or push us to the depths of despair.
Line by Line Meaning
Frankie and Johnny were sweethearts,
Frankie and Johnny were in love with each other.
Boy, how they could love!
They loved each other passionately.
Swore to be true to each other,
They promised to stay faithful to each other.
True as the stars above!
Their love was as strong and unwavering as the stars in the sky.
'Cause he was her man,
Johnny was Frankie's lover and partner.
But he done her wrong!
Johnny betrayed Frankie by cheating on her with another woman.
One night Frankie happened to pass by the hotel;
One night, Frankie happened to walk by the hotel where Johnny and his mistress were staying.
Just casually glanced into a window so high,
She looked up and saw them through a high window, with no intention of spying.
And who did she see but her lovin' man
She saw Johnny, the man she loved.
Lovin' up old Nellie Bligh!
Johnny was being affectionate with another woman named Nellie Bligh.
She caught her man
She discovered Johnny's infidelity in the act.
Doin' her wrong!
Johnny was betraying Frankie by being with another woman.
Well, she went round the corner to her favourite pawn shop;
Frankie went to her favourite pawn shop around the corner.
This time she didn't go there for fun!
This time, Frankie was on a serious mission and not there for entertainment.
'Cause when she left, underneath her long red kimono,
When she left the pawn shop, she had something hidden under her red kimono.
She was totin' a forty-four gun!
She was carrying a loaded .44 caliber gun.
She was gunnin' for her man
She was preparing to take revenge on Johnny for cheating on her.
Who was doin' her wrong!
Johnny was betraying Frankie by being with another woman.
Then back Frankie dashed to that hotel,
Frankie quickly returned to the hotel where Johnny and Nellie were staying.
Started yankin' the bell!
She furiously began ringing the bell to draw attention.
She said, "Stand back, you madam and floozies,
She warned the women in the hotel room to stay away.
Or I'll blow each and every one of you straight to hell!
She threatened to kill everyone in the room with the gun she had brought.
I want my man
She demanded to see Johnny.
Who's done me wrong!".
She accused Johnny of betraying her.
Johnnie, in panic, mounted the staircase,
Johnny was terrified and ran up the stairs to escape.
Screamin', "Oh Frankie, don't shoot!"
Johnny begged for mercy, pleading with Frankie not to shoot.
Three times she pulled a trigger on a forty-four gun,
Three times, Frankie fired her loaded .44 caliber gun.
The gun went, "Root-toot-toot!".
The sound of the gunshot was heard with each pull of the trigger.
She nailed her man
Frankie shot and killed Johnny.
Who'd done her wrong!
Johnny betrayed Frankie by being with another woman.
So they put her away in a dungeon,
Frankie was imprisoned in a dark, dank cell.
Way up in a dark dingy cell
She was imprisoned in an isolated part of the prison.
In the south east corner of a jail,
She was put in the southeast corner of the prison.
Where the wind seemed to blow straight from hell!
She was in a place that seemed impossibly bleak and miserable.
For killin' her man
Frankie was imprisoned for murdering Johnny.
Who done her wrong!
Johnny betrayed Frankie by being with another woman.
But the day Frankie mounted the scaffold,
On the day Frankie was executed by hanging.
She was just as calm as any gal could be!
Frankie was incredibly composed and peaceful before her execution.
And raising her eyes to heaven she cried,
She looked up to heaven and spoke aloud.
"Lord, I'm comin' to thee!
Frankie was seeking divine forgiveness for her sins.
I'm sorry I killed my man
Frankie expressed regret for having killed Johnny.
Who done me wrong!".
Johnny betrayed Frankie by being with another woman.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: PD TRADITIONAL, SANFORD SCHMIDT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Erna Baumgarten
Orladus war ein großer Sänger es war immer ein großer Genuss ihm zuhören
Clo Alba
thanks for sharing ;)