I was walkin' down the street mindin' my own affair
When two policemen grabbed me, unaware
He say, "Is your name Henry?" I says, "Why sure"
He says, "You the boy we've been lookin' for"

Framed, I was framed
I never do nothin' wrong
But I always get blamed, framed

They took him in the line up and let those bright lights shine
There was ten poor souls like me in that line
I knew I was a victim of someone's evil plan
When a stool pidgeon walked in and says, "That's the man"

Framed, I was framed
I never do nothin' wrong
But I always get blamed, framed

Well, the prosecutor turned and started a-prosecutin' me
Man, that cat didn't give me the third degree
He says, "Where were you on the night of July 1953?"
I said I was home in bed, he says "jury, this man is lyring"

Framed, I was framed
I never do nothin' wrong
But I always get blamed, framed

I denied charge of robbing the liquor store
Denied the charge of carrying a forty-four
Denied the charge of vagrancy, too
But when the judge came down, poured whiskey on my head
Turned around to the jury and said "Convict this man, he a drunk," what could I do?

Framed, I was framed
I never do nothin' wrong
But I always get blamed, framed, feel my pain

I was framed (he was blamed)
I was framed (he was blamed)
I got framed (he was blamed)