[Verse 1]
My name is 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
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 come down
I get a call over 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]
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
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 was getting robbed
Frankie came home in '68
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
Man turns his back on his family
He ain't no friend of mine

[Verse 4]
The night was like any other
I got a call about a 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 from his head
There was a girl crying at a table
It was Frank, they said
[Verse 5]
Well, I went out and I jumped in my car
And I hit the lights
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

[Verse 6]
Well, I chased him through them county roads
'Til a sign said "Canadian border five miles from here"
I pulled over 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
Man turns his back on his family
Well, he just ain't no good