The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #127154 Message #2908375
Posted By: Larry The Radio Guy
17-May-10 - 02:34 AM
Thread Name: Anti-Heroines in Traditional Song?
Subject: RE: Anti-Heroines in Traditional Song?
I don't think anyone's mentioned Frankie (of Frankie and Johnny). Although, to some perspectives, she's OK because after all Johnny had "done her wrong".
But how about the Leaving Home variation (popularized by Charlie Poole in the 1930's). Here Frankie kills Johnny (underneath her silk kimona she drew a 44 gun) not because he did her wrong, but simply because he was going away ("never coming home, goin' away to roam". Probably a borderline personality disordered woman for whom abandonment was the equivalent to death.