The Clown - Sammy Davis, Jr.

Frankie and Johnny were lovers

Man how those two cats could love

They promised to dig one another

Long as stars remained above

He was her mate

But he couldn’t fly straight

Now he was a cat that was lazy

Thinking of work made him frown

And she had a bank that was crazy

And his loans were not turned down

She was his fool

And he played it real cool

They sashayed down to the ballroom

A place where you go chaperoned

Strictly a come as you are room

And the clientelle were stoned

Everyone was juiced

As you may have deduced

The evening was sulty and torid

And Frankie was limp from the heat

She planted a kiss on his forehead

Then she beat out a swift retreat

For as you might suppose

She had to powder her nose

Enter a doll named Anellie

A weirdie the hipster would boast (?)

Man poets like Byron or Shelley

Would have dubbed this chick the most

Jack this gal came on

Sort of like a female Don Juan

You never saw such a tangle

That Frankie sure fought for her gent

She threw punches from ev’ry angle

Man it looked like the main event

Someone rang a bell

But daddy-o they couldn’t save Nell

Frankie had whipped out a pistol

And everyone made for the door

She started bustin the crystal

Jack she made that cannon roar

Now ladies be careful!

Look out!

Frankie put down that gun!

And when she fired the last shot

Did johnny hear?

He did not

Man she was such a lady

Oh how that Frankie did suffer

Her tears were falling like rain

The sheriff who came in to cuff her

Used the cuffs with the platinum chain

And nobody knew

Just who was takin in who

Now everyone bows when they pass her

And frankie’s the toast of the town

Man the moral is really a gasser

If he cheats simply shoot him down

He was her mate

But he wouldn’t fly straight

Here’s a thought for you to contemplate

If you want to love you gotta fly straight

Any questions?