(Also done by Johnny Cash, but kinda ruined it) 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 Frankie and Frankie 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 Frankie'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 Yeah me and Frankie 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 Frankie went in 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 were gettin' robbed Frankie came home in `68, and me, I took this job Yeah we're 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' teach him how to walk that line 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 cry'n' at a table and it was Frank, they said Well I went out and I jumped in my car and I hit the lights Well I musta done one hundred and ten through Michigan county that night It was out at the crossroads, down `round 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" I pulled over the side of the highway and watched his tail-lights disappear Me and Frankie 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' teach him how to walk that line | Man turns his back on his family and he just ain't no good --2--3--0-- --3--0--2-- --2--0--2-- --0--0--2-- -----2--0-- -----3-----

Watch the song video
Top songs from Bruce Springsteen
Playground Sessions Course Banner
Did you ever dreamed on playing piano?

Playground Sessions is a revolutionary new way to learn music and play the piano. No more boring courses. The adaptive videos automatically adjust to your skill level. Plus, you’ll receive regular feedback on your progress each week, plus a personal training plan from a professional piano teacher.

Start to play the piano instantly - and have fun doing it!