“Frankie and Johnny” is a commonly known murder ballad written by numerous musicians that is about a woman named Frankie who kills her lover whose name is Johnny. [It] is a traditional American murder ballad, but you might not know it was based on a true story (Cellania, “The Story Behind”). Many well-known singers have covered this famous murder ballad such as Louis Armstrong, Lead Belly, and Johnny Cash. Their versions of the ballad are very popular but follow very loosely for entertainment purposes to the actual story of Frankie and Albert which is documented in an article titled “The Story Behind”. The article “The Story Behind” written by Miss Cellania describes Frankie Baker and Allen Britt as a couple who lived in St. Louise while
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Cash mentions that Albert is a musician which is a clue that is it based on Frankie and Albert, but he introduces him a guitar picker, not a pianist. Cash keeps the scene of the infidelity in a nightclub that Albert is playing at but does not allow the infidelity to actually happen (qt. Cash “Frankie and Johnny”). Cash dramatizes the ballad by describing a beautiful redhead that walks into the joint and sits by the stage during Albert’s entire performance (qt. “Frankie and Johnny”). When Albert’s show is over he goes and sits at the redhead’s table only to be surprised that it is Frankie’s sister who then slaps Albert and tells him to treat her sister right (qt. “Frankie and Johnny”). Cash keeps his ballad short and to the point, but vaguely makes the point known that it is about Frankie and …show more content…
Some are very similar to their relationship while others are dramatic and written mainly for entertainment. Lead Belly’s ballad is a good example of how dramatic Frankie and Albert’s story could be told while still being able to tell that the ballad was based on their relationship. The same thing can be said about Armstrong’s and Cash’s ballads although neither of their songs were as descriptive as Belly’s. Those stories were generally written for entertainment and provided good storylines based off Frankie and Albert. Frankie and Albert’s story has provided numerous ideas for singers to sing about and will continue to evolve with the years to intrigue listener’s and reader’s
Cash mentions that Albert is a musician which is a clue that is it based on Frankie and Albert, but he introduces him a guitar picker, not a pianist. Cash keeps the scene of the infidelity in a nightclub that Albert is playing at but does not allow the infidelity to actually happen (qt. Cash “Frankie and Johnny”). Cash dramatizes the ballad by describing a beautiful redhead that walks into the joint and sits by the stage during Albert’s entire performance (qt. “Frankie and Johnny”). When Albert’s show is over he goes and sits at the redhead’s table only to be surprised that it is Frankie’s sister who then slaps Albert and tells him to treat her sister right (qt. “Frankie and Johnny”). Cash keeps his ballad short and to the point, but vaguely makes the point known that it is about Frankie and …show more content…
Some are very similar to their relationship while others are dramatic and written mainly for entertainment. Lead Belly’s ballad is a good example of how dramatic Frankie and Albert’s story could be told while still being able to tell that the ballad was based on their relationship. The same thing can be said about Armstrong’s and Cash’s ballads although neither of their songs were as descriptive as Belly’s. Those stories were generally written for entertainment and provided good storylines based off Frankie and Albert. Frankie and Albert’s story has provided numerous ideas for singers to sing about and will continue to evolve with the years to intrigue listener’s and reader’s