My name's Joe Roberts, I work for the state I'm a sergeant out of Perrineville, barracks number eight I always done an honest job, as honest as I could Got a brother named Franky, Franky ain't no good
Ever since we was young kids, it's been the same come down I get a call on the shortwave, Franky's in trouble downtown If it was any other man, I'd put him straight away But when it's your brother sometimes you look the other way
Yeah me and Franky laughin' and drinkin', nothin' feels better than blood on blood Takin' turns dancin' with Maria as the band played "Night of the Johnstown Flood," I Catch him when he's strayin' like any brother would Man turns his back on his family, he just ain't no good
Well Franky went in the army back in 1965 I got a farm deferment, settled down, took Maria for my bride Them wheat prices kept on droppin' till it was like we were gettin' robbed Franky came home in '68 and me I took this job
Yeah me and Franky laughin' and drinkin', nothin' feels better than blood on blood Takin' turns dancin' with Maria as the band played "Night of the Johnstown Flood," I Catch him when he's strayin', like any brother would Man turns his back on his family, he just ain't no good
Well the night was like any other, I get a call about quarter to nine There was trouble in a roadhouse out on the Michigan line There was a kid lyin' on the floor lookin' bad, bleedin' hard from his head Was a girl cryin' at a table; it was Frank, they said
Well I went out and I jumped in my car, and I hit the lights I musta done a hundred and ten through Michigan county that night It was out at the crossroads, yeah, down 'round Willow bank I seen a Buick with Ohio plates, behind the wheel was Frank
Well I chased him through those county roads Till a sign said "Canadian border five miles from here" I pulled over the side of the highway and watched his taillights disappear
Yeah, me and Franky laughin' and drinkin', nothin' feels better than blood on blood Takin' turns dancin' with Maria as the band played "Night of the Johnstown Flood," I Catch him when he's strayin' like any brother would Man turns his back on his family, he just ain't no good
Help me!
Yeah, me and Franky laughin' and drinkin', nothin' feels better than blood on blood Takin' turns dancin' with Maria as the band played "Night of the Johnstown Flood," I Catch him when he's strayin' like any brother would Man turns his back on his family, he just ain't no good