Interpret:

Johnny Cash

Album:

Old Favourites And New

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 Franky and Franky ain't no good


Now 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 brother sometimes you look the other way


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 well 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
But 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


YEA 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 ain't no friend of mine


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 lyin' on the floor lookin' bad, bleedin' hard from his head there was a girl cryin' at a table, it was Frank they said
Well I went out and I jumped in my car and THEN I hit the lights
I must of done 110 through Michigan county that night


It was out at the crossroads HEAD down round Willow bank
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 5 miles from here
I pulled over the side of the highway and watched his taillights disappear


YEA 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 well he just ain't no good