Frankie & Albert (Clifton Hicks; Nora Brown; Wovoka)

I learned this song from a few sources. First, Clifton Hicks of Copperhill, Tennessee. I also learned it from listening to recordings of Nora Brown of Brooklyn, New York. Crucially, I learned it from Wovoka of the Confluence. I believe all these artists trace their lessons back to George Gibson of Knott County, Kentucky, who reportedly did not play it often. By all reports, the song is based on a true story. Lomax and Lomax write:
“Sometime between 1849 and 1890 a sporting woman, probably named Frankie, shot or stabbed to death her fancy man, named Allen, Albert, or Johnnie, having found him in flagrante delictu with a woman named Alice Fly, Alice Bly, Alice Swan, Nellie Bly, Katie Fly, Ella Fry, Sara Siles, or, most colorfully Alkali…The version we print here is not the tongue-in-cheek college-boy ‘Frankie and Johnny’ but a deeply felt Negro melody collected before 1910, combined with a cross-country pooling of the stanzas” (290).
I am playing in Wild Goose Tuning (f♯DEAD) tuned down to cG♯A♯D♯G♯ on a Don Garner reproduction of an 1850s Levi Brown minstrel banjo purchased from my friend Chris. It has geared tuners and a slotted headstock. It has 7B Nylgut strings and a bridge I inherited from Chris. There are only three known actual Levi Brown originals in existence as far as I know--this is a reproduction. I play here using the traditional two-finger style.
This song is dedicated to T.O.H.

[@chickenindoubleC]

Frankie was a nice young girl, everybody knows
Spent a hundred dollars for Albert’s suit of clothes
He was her man, but he done her wrong
Oh, Frankie went to the barroom, didn’t go there for a beer
Said “Mister bartender, has my Albert been here?”
He was her man, but he done her wrong
“Now I ain’t gonna tell no stories, ain’t gonna tell no lies…
Albert was here an hour ago with a girl called Nellie Bly
He was your man, but he done you wrong”
Oh, Frankie went out for a walk, didn’t go out for fun
Underneath her little red coat, she had a .41
He was her man, but he done her wrong
She came up to the house, didn’t make no sound
Looked through the window glass, saw Albert in Nellie’s arms
He was her man, but he done her wrong
Oh, first time she shot him he staggard
Second time she shot him he fell
Third time she shot him, he fell on his heels
He was her man, but he done her wrong
Well, it’s roll me over doctor, roll me nice and slow
Roll me on my left side, my right side hurts me so
I was her man, but I done her wrong
Frankie and the Judge went for a walk, late one summer’s night
Judge said to Frankie, “You’re gonna be justified
He was your man, but he done you wrong.”

[@thistledrawfarm]

Love the story and how it's told!

[@chickenindoubleC]

It's a beautiful classic! When I heard Nora Brown's rendition I couldn't stop listening.

[@fernandobentayga4782]

🎼🪕🎶😌🎶🎙🎼
💚☁️🏡☁️💚

[@chickenindoubleC]

💞🙏🤠💕