Frankie, she was a fine looking woman
Loved a man named Johnny
Loved him, spent a hundred dollars for a suit of clothes
Can't you see him walking on and on along Canal Street?
Frankie loved Johnny
Lord, Lord, Lord, everybody knows

Now, Frankie, she got off from work one evening just a little bit early
She said, "Well, well, well, I think I'll have me a bottle of beer"
She sat down, told her troubles to the big bartender
She said, "Tell me, fat daddy, has my lovin' Johnny man been here?"
And he said, "Frankie, child, I'm terribly sorry that you ask me that question
'Cause you know, girl, that I am about as honest as any man can be
And I saw your Johnny, he was tipping down Main, feeling no pain
Slipping and sliding with a gal named
Err-uh, err-uh, err-uh, Annabelle Lee
Frankie, she screamed, "No, no, no, no, no, it can't be so
'Cause I know, know my candy man wouldn't do me wrong"
She sat there, she had a few more beers and a few more tears
She said, "I'm gettin' damn tired of this low-down dirty runaround"

Frankie, she jumped into a cab
She said to the driver, "Listen, buddy
Don't want you to stop for nothin' on the way downtown
'Cause I'm lookin', yeah
I got me a .45 here in my brassiere
I'm gonna shoot that man
Who's been giving me, yeah, yeah, the runaround

Now, Frankie, she found her lover at Broad and State Streets
Her Johnny was steadily moving and grooving with Annabelle Lee
She pulled out her gun, she took careful aim on her deadly game
And shot poor Johnny right smack dab in the middle of his big, big
Of his big affair
Bip-bam, the first time she shot him, he stood right there, stubborn
Bip-bam, then he leaned over and held his side
Bip-bam, yeah, he was kicking and screaming, screaming and kicking
Then old Johnny, Lord, Lord, Lord, Lord, Lord, Lord
He laid on down on the ground and he died

I done told you and told you the sad, sad story about Frankie and Johnny
Lord, she loved that man
She spent a hundred dollars and that's real love
Now can't you see them, walking on and on along Canal Street?
Frankie loved Johnny, ooh, yes, she did
Miss Frankie loved Johnny
Frankie loved Johnny, Lord, Lord, everybody knows, oh yeah