Frankie (Lee) and Albert (Judas Priest)

For my discussion section of Greil Marcus’ course, The Old, Weird America, we were assigned to change around one of the folk songs we’ve been talking about, “Omie Wise,” “Pretty Polly” or “Frankie and Albert.”

I picked “Frankie” and decided to change the lyrics (which can be found here) and put in Dylan references throughout. See if you guess how many are there. I should also add that this was for fun, and you should never take my sad attempt at lyrics and/or poetry seriously.

Frankie Lee was a good guy
Everybody knew
For Judas Priest’s got a new set of clothes
He was his man but the times they are a-changin'

Judas Priest said, "I'm leaving you for a little bit
Don’t you bitch and moan
Don't wait for me
Only a-worry about me when I'm like a rolling stone
He was his man but the times they are a-changin'

Frankie Lee went down along the cove
Got a bucket of rain and beer
Said to the bartender,
"Has my Judas Priest been here?"
He was his man but the times they are a-changin'

"Well, I ain't goin' nowhere,
I ain't gonna change yer way of thinkin'
I saw Judas Priest an hour ago
With a girl named Johanna Lincoln
He was his man but the times they are a-changin'

Frankie Lee went down to 4th Street
Lookin' up to the sign on the window high
He saw his Judas Priest there
Lovin' up Johanna
He was his man but the times they are a-changin'

Frankie Lee pulled out a pistol
Pulled out a fourty-four
Gun went off like a million dollar bash
And Judas Priest was knockin' on Heaven's door
He was his man but the times they are a-changin’

Frankie Lee got down upon his knees
Took Judas Priest into his lap
Started to hug and kiss him
But there was no bringin' back his sad-eyed man from his long nap
He was his man but the times they are a-changin'

"Gimme a shot of love
Throw me into a cell
I shot my Judas Priest down
And now I'm goin' to Hell."
He was his man but the times they are a-changin'

Judge said to the jury,
"Plain as a ballad in D,
A man shot his lover down
Murder in the second degree."
He was his man but the times they are a-changin’

Frankie Lee went back to the cove
Calm as a man can be
Turned his dark eyes to Johanna,
And said, "I'm your lover now” and away they did flee.
He was his man but the times they are a-changin'

(For an extended look at the rowing trip I went on this past weekend, please go to Green, How I Want You Green--if for no other reason than to see me with an apple in my mouth, a la Chief Wiggum.)