My name is Joe Roberts, I work for the state
I'm a sergeant out on Perrineville, barracks number eight
I've 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 shortwave, Franky's in trouble downtown
now if it was any other man, I'd put him straight away
but when it's your brother, sometimes you look the other way

Yeah we're laughin' and drinkin'
nothin' feels better than blood on blood
taking turns dancing 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, well he just ain't no good

Well Franky 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 droppin' till it was like we was gettin' robbed
Franky came home in '68, and me I took this job

Well me and Franky laughin' and drinkin'
nothin' feels better than blood on blood
taking turns dancing with Maria
as the band played the Night of the Johnstown Flood
I catch him when he's strayin', teach him how to walk that line
man turns his back on his family, he ain't no friend of mine

The night was like any other, got a call 'bout a quarter to nine
there was trouble at a roadhouse out on the Michigan line
there was a kind lyin' on the floor lookin' bad, bleedin' hard from his head
there was a girl cryin' at a table, and it was Franky they said

I ran out and I jumped in my car, then I hit the lights
I must have done about a 110 through Michigan county that night
it was out by the crossroads, down by Willow Bank
seen a Buick with Ohio plates, behind the wheel was Frank

Well I chased him through them county roads
till a sign said "Canadian border five miles from here"
pulled over the side of the highway
watched his tail lights disappear

Well me and Franky laughin' and drinkin'
nothin' feels better than blood on blood
taking turns dancing 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, well he just ain't no good

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