[Verse 1]
My name is Joe Roberts and 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

[Verse 2]
Now, ever since we was young kids, it's been the same comedown
I get a call on the shortwave: Frankie's in trouble downtown
Well, if it was any other man, I'd put him in straight away
But when it's your brother, sometimes you look the other way

[Chorus]
Me and Frankie laughing and drinking
Nothing feels better than blood on blood
Taking turns dancing with Maria
As the band played "Night of the Johnstown Flood"
I catch him when he's straying
Like any brother would
Man turns his back on his family
Well, he just ain't no good

[Verse 3]
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 dropping til it was like we was getting robbed
Frankie came home in '68, and me, I took this job
[Chorus]
Yeah, we're laughing and drinking
Nothing feels better than blood on blood
Taking turns dancing with Maria
As the band played "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
He ain't no friend of mine

[Verse 4]
Well, that night was like any other, I got a call 'bout a quarter to nine
There's trouble in a roadhouse out on the Michigan line
There's a kid lying on the floor, looking bad, bleeding hard from his head
There's a girl crying at a table, and it was Frank, they said

[Verse 5]
Well, I went out and jumped in my car, and I hit the lights
Well, I must've 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

[Chorus]
Yeah, me and Frankie laughing and drinking
Nothing feels better than blood on blood
Taking turns dancing with Maria
As the band played "Night of the Johnstown Flood"
I catch him when he's straying
Like any brother would
Man turns his back on his family
Well, he just ain't no good
[Verse 6]
Well, I chased him through the country roads
Til a sign said "Canadian border, five miles"
Over the side of the highway
And watched his taillights disappear

[Chorus]
Yeah, me and Frankie laughing and drinking
Nothing feels better than blood on blood
Taking turns dancing with Maria
As the band played "Night of the Johnstown Flood"
I catch him when he's straying
Like any brother would
Man turns his back on his family
Well, he just ain't no good