Frankie and Johnnie Blues
EDITOR’S NOTE: The following stanzas are part of the song: “Frankie and Johnnie Blues.” The poem is too long to be published in the regular issue of the Whiz Bang, but it will be reproduced IN FULL in the Winter Annual of Captain Billy’s Whiz Bang, Pedigreed Follies of 1921-1922.
Frankie went down to the corner,
To buy herself some near beer,
Says to the handsome bartender,
Has my loving man been here?
He is my man
But he is doing me wrong.
I ain’t going to tell you no story,
Ain’t going to tell you no lies,
Johnnie left here an hour ago
With a party called Nellie Bly,
He is your husband,
But he is doing you wrong.
Frankie went back to the Bly house,
Didn’t go back there for fun,
Underneath her red kimona,
She carried a 44 gun.
She’s after the man
That was doing her wrong.
Frankie knocked on the door,
Frankie pushed on the bell,
Open that door you “crooked girl”
Or I’ll blow you clear to—well,
You’ve got my man,
That’s doing me wrong.
Thirteen girls dressed in mourning,
Thirteen men dressed in black,
They all went out to the cemetery,
But only twelve of the men came back,
They left her man,
That had done her wrong.
* * *
There was a young lady of Skye,
With a shape like a capital I.
She said “It’s too bad!
But then I can pad”—
Which shows you figures can lie.
* * *