More songs by Bruce Springsteen
Description
Guitar, Associated Performer, Vocal: Bruce Springsteen
Composer, Lyricist: B. Springsteen
Mastering Engineer: Dennis King
Mastering Engineer: Bob Ludwig
Mastering Engineer: Steve Marcussen
Recording Engineer: Mike Batlin
Lyrics and translation
Original
My name is Joe Roberts.
I work for the state.
I'm a sergeant out of Burnville, barracks number eight.
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 short wave, 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'.
Nothing 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 dream, 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 then wheat prices kept on droppin' 'til it was like we were gettin' robbed.
Frankie came home in '68, and me, I took this job.
Yeah, we're laughin' and drinkin'. Nothing 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 dream, 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 cryin' at a table, and it was Frankie she said.
Well, I went out and I jumped in my car.
Then I hit the lights.
Well, I musta done a 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 'til a sign said Canadian border five miles from here.
I pulled over to the side of the highway and watched his tail lights disappear.
Me and Frankie laughin' and drinkin'.
Nothing 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 dream, like any brother would.
Man turns his back on his family, well, he just ain't no good.