Songwriter: Bruce Springsteen
Producer: Brian Ahern
[Verse 1]
My name is Joe Roberts, I work for the state
I'm a sergeant out on Perenville barracks number 8
I've always done an honest job, honest as I could
Got a brother named Frankie, Frankie isn't no good
Ever since we were young kids, it's been the same come down
I'd get a call on the short wave, Frankie's in trouble downtown
Well, if it was any other man, I'd put him straight away
But sometimes when it's your brother, 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 while the band played "The Night of the Johnstown Flood"
I catch him when he's straying, like any brother should
Man turns his back on his family, he ain't no good
[Verse 2]
Well, Frankie went into the army back in 1965
I got a farm deferment, settled down, took Maria for my wife
But them wheat prices kept on dropping, until it was like we's getting robbed
Frankie came home in '68, and me, I took this job
[Chorus]
Yeah, me and Frankie laughing and drinking, nothing feels better than blood on blood
Taking turns dancing with Maria while the band played "The 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, ain't no friend of mine
[Verse 3]
The night was like any other, I got a call about a quarter to nine
There was trouble at a roadhouse out on the Michigan line
There was a kid on the floor, looking bad, bleeding hard from his head
There was a girl crying at a table, it was Frankie, she said
I ran out and I jumped in my car, then I hit the lights
I must have done about a hundred and ten to Michigan County that night
It was down by the crossroads, out by willow bank
Seen the Buick with Ohio plates, behind the wheel was Frank
Well, I chased him through them county roads, until the sign said Canadian border five miles from here
Pulled over to the side out the highway, watched the taillights disappear
[Chorus]
Yeah, me and Frankie laughing and drinking, nothing feels better than blood on blood
Taking turns dancing with Maria while the band played "The Night of the Johnstown Flood"
I catch him when he's straying, like any brother should
Man turns his back on his family, he ain't no good
My name is Joe Roberts, I work for the state
I'm a sergeant out on Perenville barracks number 8
I've always done an honest job, honest as I could
Got a brother named Frankie, Frankie isn't no good
Ever since we were young kids, it's been the same come down
I'd get a call on the short wave, Frankie's in trouble downtown
Well, if it was any other man, I'd put him straight away
But sometimes when it's your brother, 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 while the band played "The Night of the Johnstown Flood"
I catch him when he's straying, like any brother should
Man turns his back on his family, he ain't no good
[Verse 2]
Well, Frankie went into the army back in 1965
I got a farm deferment, settled down, took Maria for my wife
But them wheat prices kept on dropping, until it was like we's getting robbed
Frankie came home in '68, and me, I took this job
[Chorus]
Yeah, me and Frankie laughing and drinking, nothing feels better than blood on blood
Taking turns dancing with Maria while the band played "The 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, ain't no friend of mine
[Verse 3]
The night was like any other, I got a call about a quarter to nine
There was trouble at a roadhouse out on the Michigan line
There was a kid on the floor, looking bad, bleeding hard from his head
There was a girl crying at a table, it was Frankie, she said
I ran out and I jumped in my car, then I hit the lights
I must have done about a hundred and ten to Michigan County that night
It was down by the crossroads, out by willow bank
Seen the Buick with Ohio plates, behind the wheel was Frank
Well, I chased him through them county roads, until the sign said Canadian border five miles from here
Pulled over to the side out the highway, watched the taillights disappear
[Chorus]
Yeah, me and Frankie laughing and drinking, nothing feels better than blood on blood
Taking turns dancing with Maria while the band played "The Night of the Johnstown Flood"
I catch him when he's straying, like any brother should
Man turns his back on his family, he ain't no good
more tracks from the album
From the albums
- Johnny 99 (1983)
- The Essential Johnny Cash (1992) (1992)
- Man in Black: The Very Best of Johnny Cash (2002)
Johnny Cash popular songs
- I’ve Been Everywhere
- I Won’t Back Down
- Heart of Gold
- Further On (Up the Road)
- I Hung My Head
- Rusty Cage
- It Ain’t Me Babe
- Wanted Man
- In My Life
- Redemption Day
- Desperado
- Highway Patrolman
- I’m a Drifter
- I’m on Fire
- The Running Kind
- I Feel Better All Over
- Mama, You’ve Been on My Mind
- No Expectations
- One Too Many Mornings
- I Saw the Light
- Johnny 99
- New Moon Over Jamaica
- Rowboat
- Sea of Heartbreak