Frankie was a little older and Johnny was seventeen
Frankie was the most beautiful man Johnny’d ever seen
Frankie said “Come on over and we’ll play in the field behind my house”
They set out after supper and they wasn’t seen for hours
Frankie said “I dare you to kiss me on the mouth”
And Johnny took the chance that he he’d only dreamed about
But Johnny’s sellin’ cars now, and Frankie’s in the bars again

So Frankie and Johnny were known all around the town
Holding hands and kissing every time they came around
Frankie said “I love you Johnny, I’ll always be your man,
You know, no matter what, I’ll be there in the end.”
Johnny said “I trust you” and the town just heaved a sigh
Cause we knew Frankie was in the bars every night looking for another guy.
But Johnny’s sellin’ cars now, and Frankie’s in the bars again

Johnny was on the football team a queer in shoulder pads
Watching his back in the locker room where the jocks would kick his ass
But Johnny never told and Johnny never cried
But sometimes he hurt so bad he wanted just to die
So Frankie wasn’t perfect, but Frankie held him close
And nothing else seemed to matter once they took off all their clothes
But Johnny’s sellin’ cars now, and Frankie’s in the bars again

Frankie’d been the black sheep ever since he’d learned to walk
His daddy was a drunkard, mommy treated him like a dog
So he hung out by the railroad tracks with the hobos getting high
Doing a trick for a quarter bag, looking for Mr. Right
He always avoided playgrounds cause they seemed to make him cry
You know since that night with Uncle Marty he’d never been a child
But Johnny’s sellin’ cars now, and Frankie’s in the bars again

After graduation, the boys they found a place
Johnny finally found happiness you could read it on his face
But Frankie was getting moodier than he’d ever been before
Some nights Johnny’d find him crying in a ball down on the floor
He’d disappear for days on end and he’d never send a word
And Johnny’d sit at home contemplating what all this pain was for
But Johnny’s sellin’ cars now, and Frankie’s in the bars again

Johnny made his mind up, at last he took a stand
I saw him there at the end of the bar with a suitcase in his hands
Johnny said “I love him so much my heart wants to explode,
But it’s time I thought of me for a change, I guess I’ll have to go.”
Penniless and broken he had no place to hide
So I took him in my arms and I carried him inside
But Johnny’s sellin’ cars now, and Frankie’s in the bars again

I opened up a book of poetry and I handed him a drink
He laughed “It’s like a Bob Dylan song, from the 70’s I think.”
It didn’t matter to either of us where Frankie was that night
‘Till the door was broken in, and the boys began to fight
Frankie pulled a gun out and fired into the air
I’ve never seen the look in his eyes in anybody anywhere
But Johnny’s sellin’ cars now, and Frankie’s in the bars again

Frankie started crying and Johnny took his hand
“This can’t go on,” he said, “and I know you understand
That Frankie you’re the only man that I never will forget
But it’s time that I moved on before it all ends up in death
Frankie he just nodded and dropped the pistol to the floor
He said “I know I you’re right so I’ll try not to love you anymore.”
But Johnny’s sellin’ cars now, and Frankie’s in the bars again

Johnny didn’t need me so he moved out on his own
But I think of him a lot now and the courage that he showed
But Frankie never learned at all and he still ain’t seen the light
Never happy with himself, never glad to be alive
Johnny’s got a good man and they live on the edge of town
Frankie lives ‘neath the railroad tracks blowin’ gypsies, thieves and
But Johnny’s sellin’ cars now, and Frankie’s in the bars again