Frankie And Albert

Will Stark

as transcribed by Alan Lomax into his book "The Land Where The Blues Began"

Frankie was a good woman,
Everybody knowed,
Paid eighty-one dollars
For Albert's suit of clothes.
He's her man,
But he done her wrong.

Frankie went to the barroom,
Asked for a glass of wine.
She asked the loving bartender,
"Have you seen that man of mine
He's my man,
But he done me wrong."

The bartender said, "Yes, Frankie,
I ain't gonna tell you no lie.
He left here about an hour ago
With the girl they call Alice Fly.
He's Your man,
But he done you wrong."

Frankie went out on down the street,
She heard a bulldog bark.
"Sholy that must be Albert,
Hidin in the dark.
He's my man,
But he done me wrong."

Frankie went to the hop joint
And she didn't have no fear.
She see Albert smoking a hop seegar
And the women all buying him beer.
He's her man,
But he done her wrong.

She shot him once and she shot him twice,
And he fell down on the floor,
Say, "Turn me over, baby,
The bullets hurt me so."
He's her man,
But he done her wrong.

Frankie went to Albert's mother
And fell down on her knees,
Says, "I have killed your son, Albert,
Forgive me, if you please.
He's my man,
But he done me wrong."

Albert's mother told Frankie,
Says, "Please, take my advice,
Don't never love a poor man so
That you have to take his life.
He's your man,
But you done him wrong."

Old Stewball

Will Stark

as transcribed by Alan Lomax into his book "The Land Where The Blues Began"

Old Stewball, Old Stewball,
I know him of old,
You run in London
Twelve long years ago.

When the word was given
For the hosses to go,
Stewball, he started
Like an arrow from a bow.

On the day that was 'pinted
For the hosses to run,
The ladies and gentlemen
From Baltimore come.

The ladies did holler
And the gentlemen did squawl.
The children cried, "Look, look
At noble Stewball."

Old Bonnie's a fine hoss,
Had a long tail and mane,
Stewball can pass her
Like showers of rain.

"Old Master, old Master,
I'm risking my life
To win all this money
For you and you wife."

"Stick fait your saddle
Say, rider, don't fall.
You won't be jostled
By noble Stewball."

Master bet hundreds,
And Missus bet pounds,
Master was winner
But Missus took down…

Ollie Jackson

Will Stark

as transcribed by Alan Lomax into his book "The Land Where The Blues Began"

Hush, girls and boys,
Don't you all say a word.
I'm gonna sing you a new song now
That you haven't ever heard.
When you lose your money, learn to lose.

On Saturday Night
'Tween eight and nine o'clock,
Ollie Jackson, the gambler,
Made two fatal shots.
When you lose your money, learn to lose.

Ollie Jackson was a gambler,
Dick Carr was the same.
"Let's go down to Bill Curtis's place
Where they havin a big crap game."
When you lose your money, learn to lose.

Dick Carr had the dice,
Bet six bits he passed.
Ollie Jackson faded him
And the was po' Dick's last.
When you lose your money, learn to lose.

When the bet was on,
Dick Carr's pint was nine.
He grabbed um and rolled um in
And out comes seven flyin.
When you lose your money, learn to lose.

Ollie Jackson win the bet.
Dick wouldn't turn it loose.
Dick started for his pistol
And Ollie said, "It ain't no use
When you lose your money, learn to lose.

Ollie Jackson shot Dick Carr,
He dropped down his knees,
And Dave Carr throwed up his hands,
"Don't kill my brother, please."
When you lose your money, learn to lose.

Babe Carr, he jumped up,
Started around the table.
Ollie leveled that Colt of his,
Shot Babe below his navel.
When you lose your money, learn to lose.

George Fountain says, "Boys,
This will never do."
Curtis said, "You done spoke too late,
He shot Babe through and Through."
When you lose your money, learn to lose.

Dick Carr and Babe,
They both fell near in line.
Five minutes afterwards,
Carr brothers, they were dyin.
When you lose your money, learn to lose.

When the shootin was over,
Ollie looked big and stout.
He put his pistol in his pocket
And done the slow drag out.
When you lose your money, learn to lose.

When the inquest was over,
Folk listened and they looked.
The all spoke very well of him
Except Joe Fountain and Big Foot.
When you lose your money, learn to lose.

Mrs. Carr said to the sergeant,
"I wish you had come soon
And 'rested Ollie Jackson,
A little Kansas City coon."
When you lose your money, learn to lose.

On 19th and Chestnut
Was heard a distressin noise,
How two bullin gamblers met their death,
Two Kansas City boys,
When you lose your money, learn to lose.

The day was set for the trial
All the rounders stood in line
To see would Ollie Jackson
Have to do some time.
When you lose your money, learn to lose.

George Fountain and Big Foot,
They both done all they could,
But if Ollie had got one hundred years,
It would have done them boys no good.
When you lose your money, learn to lose.

Now, boys and girls,
Please take my advice,
Never try to gamble
With a pair of loaded dice.
When you lose your money, learn to lose.