Money For Gasoline

Lyrics: Gerrit Graham
Music: Bob Weir/Ratdog

A Ratdog song first played with lyrics on 8 April 2006, (though an instrumental version had been played the previous year, under the title "Spin The Wheel"). Both the title and the lyrics seem to have been through various changes. "Money For Gasoline" is now the official title, though "Frankie and Jonnie" was the title on the band's setlist for the early versions (with that spelling, rather than the more normal "Frankie and Johnny.")

The lyrics are still changing - thanks to Ben Anderson, Bill Tedzeli and Gene Baran for their help

Sorehead judge
All red in the face
Called Johnny a bum
And a civic disgrace
'Cause he fell asleep
In a handicapped space
Now he's gonna learn
His by-God place

Down went Frankie
To the courthouse that day
The law weren't inclined (note 1)
To give her her say
Words come to blows (note 2)
And in the melee
Frankie and Johnnie
Skedaddle away

Chorus
(Spin the wheel)
Hit the bricks and run like hell
(Spin the wheel)
Pound the piss out the courthouse bell
(Spin the wheel)
Dive right into the wishing well (note 3)
Spin the wheel like Ezekiel

(spin the wheel)
Spin the wheel, spin the wheel
(spin the wheel)
Spin the wheel, spin the wheel
(spin the wheel)
Spin the wheel, spin the wheel
Spin the wheel like Ezekiel

Joint in Des Moines
Called the Club Baltimore
Fella been drinking
Well he had a few more
"Frankie" says he
"You're a cow and a whore"
Now he's laying there dead
In the muck on the floor (note 4)

A Forty-Four Colt (note 5)
Makes a great big sound
The law come by (note 6)
But no gun could be found
They took that drunk (note 7)
To the cold potter's ground
Frankie and Johnnie
They weren't around

[chorus]

Frances and John
Lord, they could run
Making good time
In the last of the sun
Money for gasoline
Liquor for fun
The law is an ass
But love weighs a ton

Frankie and Johnnie
They're lovers, you know
A story so real
Just goes to show
The song is the same
Wherever you go
It's wheels up above (note 8)
And it's hearts here below

[chorus]

Spin the wheel, spin the wheel
(spin the wheel)
Spin the wheel, spin the wheel
(spin the wheel)
Spin the wheel, spin the wheel
(spin the wheel)
Spin the wheel like Ezekiel
Spin the wheel like Ezekiel
Spin the wheel like Ezekiel

Notes
(1) sometimes "But that judge weren't inclined"
(2) sometimes "But she wouldn't quit" or "Worse come to pass in the evening at last"
(3) sometimes "Drop a dime in the wishing well"
(4) sometimes "dead in the slop on the floor" or "dead on the barroom floow"
(5) sometimes "a smokeless colt"
(6) sometimes "The cops come by" or "Brought the boys in blue"
(7) sometimes "They stuck that drunk in the cold potter's ground"
(8) sometimes "It's wheels spin above"

Further Information
For more information on recordings see Matt Schofield's Grateful Dead Family Discography