Lyr Req: Frankie and Albert (Leadbelly)

Subject: Lyr Add: FRANKIE AND ALBERT (Lead Belly)
From: Roberto
Date: 09 Dec 07 - 04:17 AM

A difficult song to transcribe. From The Midnight Special, The Library of Congress Recordings (Rounder). I've put question marks where I think there are the main problems, but it would be better to check every line. Please, help. R

Frankie was a woman
Everybody know
Paid one hundred dollar
T' buy 'er man a suit of clothes
Was her man
'Cause he done her wrong

Frankie went out walkin'
Did not go for fun
Had on her apron
Albert's forty-one
Kill my man
'Cause he done me wrong

Frankie went down to the first (?) saloon
Called (?) for a bottle of beer
Asked her lovin' bartender:
Lovin' man been here?
He's my man
But he done me wrong

Frankie went by her house
Didn't give them (???) long
Looked through the window glass
Albert in woman's arms
He's my man
But he done me wrong

I ain't gonna tell you no story
I ain't gonna tell you no lie
Albert left here a hour ago
Woman named Alice Fly
He's your man
'Cause he done you wrong

Frankie, she shot Albert
Fell all in a knot
Cryin' - Oh dear Mrs. Johnson (?)
Now (?) your son is shot
I'm your son
And the only one

Frankie, she shot Albert
Fell upon his knee
Cryin' - Oh Policeman
Don't let that woman kill me
I'm her man
And I done her wrong

Rubber-tired hearse
Rubber-tired hack
Take you out to the graveyard
And bring you mother back
Was her son
And the only one

Turn me over mother
Turn me over slow
Turn me over to your (?) left side
Never turn me over no mo'
I'm your son
And the only one

Takin' Albert to the graveyard
Went to let him down
Frankie was a-singin'
With a doleful sound (?????)
Killed you man
'Cause you done me wrong

Frankie went to Mrs. Johnson
Fell down on her knee
Cryin' - O Mrs. Johnson
Will you forgive me please?
Killed your son
'Cause he done me wrong

Mrs. Johnson said: Frankie
I'll forgive you not
Killed poor Albert
Only son I'm got
Killed my son
And the only one

Frankie went to the graveyard
Fell down on her knee:
Speak one word, Albert,
Give my heart some ease
Killed you man
'Cause you done me wrong

Farewell, farewell
Farewell, farewell

Poor boy, poor boy
Poor boy, poor boy

My son, my son
My son, my son

Goodbye, goodbye
Goodbye, goodbye

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Frankie and Albert (Lead Belly)
From: Roberto
Date: 24 Dec 07 - 02:31 PM

A Christmas refresh for this and the other Frankie and Albert (by Patton), that got not a reply. R

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Frankie and Albert (Lead Belly)
From: Bill D
Date: 24 Dec 07 - 03:53 PM

The version I have is from a different recording session...(has 'slightly' different words and verses in a different order.)

A couple of things I do hear...

"Had unda her apron
Albert's smokin'forty-one"

"Cryin' - Oh dear Mrs. Johnson (?)
See where your son is shot"

"I'll forgive you, Frankie
I'll forgive you not
Killed poor Albert
Only support I've got"

Some of this may be that he just didn't sing the exact way each time...and also, Leadbelly was not known for have the best enunciation see here
It's probably best to just look up several lyrics texts and get the best you can, as deciphering Huddie Ledbetter can cause experts to shrug.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Frankie and Albert (Leadbelly)
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Nov 22 - 04:59 PM

* a hundred dollar
*could be: went a-walkin or went out walkin
* Frankie went down to the Huddy’s saloon
*Alice Fry
*Cryin “Oh, dear mother, lordy! Oh, your son is shot!”
*turn me over for your last time