Known as "Van the Man" by his fans, Morrison first rose to prominence as the lead singer of the Northern Irish band Them, writing their 1964 hit "Gloria". A few years later, Morrison left the band for a successful solo career, starting with the album Astral Weeks.
Morrison has pursued an idiosyncratic musical path. Much of his music is tightly structured around the conventions of American soul and R&B, such as the popular singles "Brown Eyed Girl", "Moondance", "Domino", and "Wild Night". An equal part of his catalogue consists of lengthy, loosely connected, spiritually inspired musical journeys that show the influence of Celtic tradition, jazz, and stream-of-consciousness narrative, such as his classic album Astral Weeks and lesser known works such as Veedon Fleece and Common One. The two strains together are sometimes referred to as "Celtic Soul," and Morrison rejects the characterization of his genre of music as Rock, citing Elvis Presley as a non-influence.
He continues to perform regularly and achieved his highest U.S. chart position (number ten on the Billboard 200) with his 2008 album, Keep It Simple.
Frankie And Johnny
Van Morrison Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We'll take it a bit slower
This is, this is the, huh, this is the first song I ever learned, actually
Frankie and Johnny were sweethearts
Lordy, how they could love
Swore to be true to each other
Yeah, true to the skies above
And Frankie and Johnny went walkin'
And Johnny had on a new suit
Yeah, Frankie spent one-hundred dollar notes
Just to make her man look cute
He was her man, he wouldn't do her no wrong
Frankie went over to the barroom
Stopped for a bottle of beer
Said to the old bartender man
Has my lover Johnny man been here?
He was my man, Lord, but he'd been doin' me wrong, so wrong.
Yeah Frankie looked over the transom door
And then to her great surprise
There sat her lover man Johnny
Makin' love to Nellie Bly
He was her man, but he was doin' her wrong
Well Frankie lifted up her kimono dress
And she drew (ladaladalala) out a little .44
She shot once, twice, three times (three times) she shot him
And through that hardwood (door) floor
Yeah she shot her man (yeah he was her man)
Well but he been doin' her wrong yeah
He said, roll me over so careful ah
Roll me over so slow,
Oh roll me on to my left hand side,
Because your bullet hurt me so,
I was your man, but I been doin' you wrong.
Play it Chris!
Well they sent for Frankie's mother
Come down to Huddy's saloon
To see what's the matter with her boy
She come down, Frankie looked up at her
Here what she said:
She said, Oh Mrs. Johnson, oh forgive me please
Well I killed your lovin' son, Johnny
But I'm down on my bended knee
I shot your man, 'cause he was doin' me wrong. ah
She said, I'll forgive you Frankie,
She said, I'll forgive you not, not
For killin' my lovin' son Johnny,
He's the only support that I've got,
'Cause you shot my man and he was doin' you wrong.
Well the last time I seen Frankie
She was a-sittin' in a dungeon cell
She would be there moanin', herself
With no one there to care
She shot her man, a he'd been doin' her wrong, so wrong
Well bring out the overtime hearse all day long
You gotta bring out the pony and truck hey
They're gonna take Johnny, Johnny to the cemetery (graveyard)
And they ain't never coming back
Oh he was her man, oh but he been doin' her wrong, so wrong
Well the story ain't got no moral, Lordy
But the story ain't got no end
Well the story only goes to show
That there ain't no damn good in men
He was her man, but he was doin' her wrong
Yeah, ba-da-ba-ba-da-ba-ba-da-ba-ba-ba-ba
The lyrics to Van Morrison's "Frankie and Johnny" tell the tragic story of a woman named Frankie who shoots and kills her unfaithful lover Johnny. The opening lines from L.D. indicate that this is his first-ever learned song. The first verse introduces us to the titular couple, who are in love and swear to be true to each other. Johnny is described as a devoted lover, promising not to do Frankie wrong. The following verse talks about their outing together, with Frankie spending a lot of money to make Johnny look good in his new suit. The third verse introduces the conflict, with Frankie going to the bar to look for Johnny and finding him in bed with another woman.
The subsequent verse describes Frankie's anger and jealousy. She shoots Johnny several times in the heat of the moment, and he dies in her arms. Frankie's tragic fate is sealed as she finds herself sitting in a dungeon, alone and with no one to care for her. The story concludes with Johnny's funeral procession, and the song ends on a bleak note with the line: "There ain't no damn good in men." The story is on the surface a cautionary tale of jealousy and revenge, but it also holds a deeper meaning. It highlights the darker side of human nature and the vulnerability of love and relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
We'll take it a bit slower
Let's slow down and enjoy this song
Frankie and Johnny were sweethearts
Frankie and Johnny were in love
Lordy, how they could love
Their love was intense and passionate
Swore to be true to each other
They promised to be loyal to each other
Yeah, true to the skies above
Their love was faithful and sincere
He was her man, wouldn't do her no wrong
Johnny was devoted to Frankie and would never hurt her
And Frankie and Johnny went walkin'
They took a stroll together
And Johnny had on a new suit
Johnny had new clothes
Yeah, Frankie spent one-hundred dollar notes
Frankie spent a lot of money to make Johnny look good
Just to make her man look cute
Frankie wanted Johnny to look attractive
Frankie went over to the barroom
Frankie went to the bar
Stopped for a bottle of beer
Frankie bought a beer
Said to the old bartender man
Frankie asked the bartender
Has my lover Johnny man been here?
Frankie wanted to know if Johnny was at the bar
He was my man, Lord, but he'd been doin' me wrong, so wrong.
Johnny was supposed to be Frankie's man, but he had been unfaithful
Yeah Frankie looked over the transom door
Frankie peered over the door
And then to her great surprise
Frankie was shocked by what she saw
There sat her lover man Johnny
Johnny was sitting with another woman
Makin' love to Nellie Bly
Johnny was having an affair with Nellie Bly
Well Frankie lifted up her kimono dress
Frankie raised her dress
And she drew (ladaladalala) out a little .44
Frankie pulled out a gun
She shot once, twice, three times (three times) she shot him
Frankie shot Johnny multiple times
And through that hardwood (door) floor
The bullets went through the floor
Yeah she shot her man (yeah he was her man)
Frankie shot the man she loved
Well but he been doin' her wrong yeah
But Johnny was unfaithful and deserved to be shot
He said, roll me over so careful ah
Johnny asked to be turned over gently
Roll me over so slow,
To avoid causing pain
Oh roll me on to my left hand side,
Johnny requested a particular position
Because your bullet hurt me so,
Frankie's bullet caused Johnny pain
I was your man, but I been doin' you wrong.
Johnny admitted his infidelity and betrayal
Play it Chris!
Chris is urged to continue playing music
Well they sent for Frankie's mother
Someone summoned Frankie's mother
Come down to Huddy's saloon
To come to the bar
To see what's the matter with her boy
To see what happened to Frankie
She come down, Frankie looked up at her
Frankie's mother arrived and Frankie noticed
Here what she said:
This is what she said
She said, Oh Mrs. Johnson, oh forgive me please
Frankie pleaded for forgiveness from Johnny's mother
Well I killed your lovin' son, Johnny
Frankie admitted to killing Johnny
But I'm down on my bended knee
Frankie was begging for forgiveness
I shot your man, 'cause he was doin' me wrong. ah
Frankie explained why she shot Johnny
She said, I'll forgive you Frankie,
Johnny's mother forgave Frankie
She said, I'll forgive you not, not
Johnny's mother still felt hurt and angry
For killin' my lovin' son Johnny,
She couldn't forgive Frankie for taking her son's life
He's the only support that I've got,
Johnny's mother relied on him
'Cause you shot my man and he was doin' you wrong.
Frankie's actions were understandable but unforgivable
Well the last time I seen Frankie
The last time anyone saw Frankie
She was a-sittin' in a dungeon cell
She was in jail
She would be there moanin', herself
She was lonely and unhappy
With no one there to care
No one was there for her
She shot her man, a he'd been doin' her wrong, so wrong
Frankie's act of revenge had significant consequences
Well bring out the overtime hearse all day long
A funeral procession was organized to take Johnny's body to the cemetery
You gotta bring out the pony and truck hey
The casket was transported by a horse-drawn carriage
They're gonna take Johnny, Johnny to the cemetery (graveyard)
Johnny's body was taken to the graveyard for burial
And they ain't never coming back
Johnny was gone forever
Oh he was her man, oh but he been doin' her wrong, so wrong
Johnny was supposed to be Frankie's man, but he had betrayed her trust
Well the story ain't got no moral, Lordy
This story doesn't have a lesson to teach
But the story ain't got no end
The story goes on and on
Well the story only goes to show
The story simply illustrates
That there ain't no damn good in men
The story suggests that men are unreliable and untrustworthy
He was her man, but he was doin' her wrong
Johnny was Frankie's man but he betrayed her trust
Yeah, ba-da-ba-ba-da-ba-ba-da-ba-ba-ba-ba
Instrumental outro
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: KRIS IFE, TRADITIONAL, J VINCENT EDWARDS, WAYNE NEWTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind