My name is Joe Roberts, I work for the state
I'm a sergeant out of Perrineville barracks number 8
I've always done an honest job, as honest as I could
I got a brother named Franky, and Franky ain't no good

Ever since we was young kids, it's been the same come down
I get a call on the short-wave, Franky's in trouble downtown
Well, if it was any other man, I'd put him straight away
But when it's your own brother, you look the other way

Yeah, with 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 family, well, he just ain't no good

Franky went in the army back in '65
I got a farm deferment, took Maria for my wife
Wheat prices kept on droppin' 'til it was like we was gettin' robbed
Franky came home in '68, and me, I took this job

Yeah, when we're laughin' and drinkin', nothin' feels like blood on blood
Takin' turns dancin' with Maria as the band played "Night of the Johnstown Flood"
I catch him when he's strayin', teach him to walk that line
Man turns his back on his family, he ain't no friend of mine

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 lyin' on the floor, bleedin' hard from his head
There was a girl cryin' at a table and it was Frank, they said
Well, I went out and jumped into my car and I hit the lights
Must've done one hundred and ten through Michigan county that night
It was out at the crossroads, down round Willow bank
Seen a car with Ohio plates, behind the wheel was Frank

I chased him through them county roads 'til a sign said Canadian border five miles
Pulled to the side of the highway, watched his taillights disappear

Franky laughin' and drinkin', nothin' feels like blood on blood
Takin' turns dancin' with Maria as the band played "The 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
Man turns his back on his family, he just ain't no good
He just ain't no good