Highway Patrolman

[Verse 1]

My name is Joe Roberts

I work for the state

I'm a sergeant out of Perrineville

Barracks Number 8

I always done an honest job

As honest as I could

I got a brother named Frankie

And Frankie ain't no good

[Verse 2]

Now, ever since we was young kids

It's been the same comedown

I get a call on the shortwave

Frankie's in trouble downtown

Well, if it was any other man

I'd put him straight away

But when it's your brother

Sometimes you look the other way

[Chorus]

Yeah, me and Frankie laughing and drinking

Nothing feels better than blood on blood

Taking turns dancing with Maria

As the band played "Night of the Johnstown Flood"

I catch him when he's straying

Like any brother would

A man turns his back on his family

Well, he just ain't no good

[Verse 3]

Well, Frankie went in the army

Back in 1965

I got a farm deferment

Settled down, took Maria for my wife

But them wheat prices kept on dropping

'Til it was like we were getting robbed

Frankie came home in '68

And me, I took this job

[Chorus]

Yeah, we're laughing and drinking

Nothing feels better than blood on blood

Taking turns dancing with Maria

As the band played "Night of the Johnstown Flood"

I catch him when he's straying

Teach him how to walk that line

A man turns his back on his family

He ain't no friend of mine

[Verse 4]

Well, the night was like any other

I got a call 'bout quarter to nine

There was trouble in a roadhouse

Out on the Michigan line

There was a kid lying on the floor, looking bad

Bleeding hard from his head

There was a girl crying at a table

And it was Frank, they said

[Verse 5]

Well, I went out and I jumped in my car

And I hit the lights

Well, I must've done a hundred and ten

Through Michigan County that night

It was out at the crossroads

Down 'round Willow Bank

Seen a Buick with Ohio plates

Behind the wheel was Frank

Well, I chased him through them county roads

'Til a sign said "Canadian border, five miles from here"

I pulled over on the side of the highway

And watched his taillights disappear

[Chorus]

Me and Frankie laughing and drinking

Nothing feels better than blood on blood

Taking turns dancing with Maria

As the band played "Night of the Johnstown Flood"

I catch him when he's straying

Like any brother would

A man turns his back on his family

Well, he just ain't no good