Mike Seeger/Tom Paley/John Cohen/Dave Guard

Frankie and Johnnie were sweet hearts They had a quarrel one day Johnny vowed he would leave her
He said he was going away Never coming home Goin' away to roam

Frankie begged and she pleaded, "My love, Johnny, please stay Now, oh, my honey, I've done you wrong but please don't go away"
Then Johnny sighed while Frankie cried

Chorus:
"Oh, I'm a-going away I'm a-goin' to stay Never coming home You're gonna miss me ,honey, in the days to come
When the winter winds begin to blow, the ground is covered up
And when you think of the way, you're gonna wish me back, your lovin' man,
You're gonna miss me, honey, in the day they say's to come"

Frankie done said to her Johnny, "Now man your hour done come" "Cause from behind her kimono she drew her forty-four gun
"These love affairs are hard to bear!"
Johnny, he fled down the stairway "My love, Frankie, don't shoot!" Frankie done aimed the forty-four
While the town went rooty-toot-toot As Johnny fell, then Frankie yelled,

(Chorus)

"Send for your rubber tired hearses Send for your rubber tired hacks Carry old Johnny to the graveyard, I've shot him in the back
With a great big gun as the preacher begun
Send for some policeman to take me right away Lock me down in the dungeon cell and throw the key away
My Johnny's dead because he said

(Chorus)