Johnny Cash - Highway Patrolman lyrics

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

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

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

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

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

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