Frankie and Johnny was lovers, oh, how they could love
They sworn to be true to each other, true as the skies above
It was her man, 'cause he's doin' her wrong

Frankie went down to the corner, to get her a stein of beer
She aksed the big old fat bartender, "Have my lovin' Johnny been here?
He was my man, but he's doin' me wrong."

Said, "I ain't gonna tell you no story, I ain't gonna tell you no lie
He was here 'bout an hour ago with that gal they call Nellie Blye, 'nd
He was your man, but he's doin' you wrong."

Frankie went down to the hotel, she didn't go down there for fun
Under her long red kimono she carried her .44 gun
Lookin' for the man that had done her wrong

Johnny pulled off his Stetson hat, hollered, "Now, baby, don't shoot!"
Frankie pressed her finger on the trigger and that gun went "rrrroooolietoo"
She killed her man, 'cause he done her wrong

This is the end of my story, this is the end of my song
Frankie's down in the county jail, poor thing, down there all alone
She killed her man, 'cause he done her wrong