Highway Patrolman
Recorded: April, 6 1983 Nashville, Tennessee
Source: The Essential Johnny Cash Vol. 3
My name is Joe Roberts, I work for the state
I'm a sergeant here in Peringville,barracks number eight
I've always done an honest job, honest as I could
Got a brother named Frankie,Frankie ain't no good
Ever since we were young kids, it's been the same come down
I'd get a call on the shortway, 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 with blood
Taking turns dancing with Maria
While the band plays "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 and settled down, took Maria for my wife
But them wheat prices kept on dropping,til' it was like we's getting robbed
Frankie came home in '68, me, I took this job
Yeah me and Frankie laughing and drinking
Nothing feels better than blood with blood
Taking turns dancing with Maria
While the band plays "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, he ain't no friend of mine
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The night was like any other, I got a call 'bout a quarter 'til nine
There was trouble at a road house, 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 Êjumped in my car, then I hit the lights
I must of did about 110, in Michigan County that night
It was down by the crossroad, out by Willow Bank
Seen a Buick with Ohio plates, behind the wheel was Frank
Well I chased him through them county roads, 'til the sign said
"Canadian Boarder Five Miles from Here"
Pulled over to the side of the highway, watched the tail lights disappear
Yeah me and Frankie laughing and drinking
Nothing feels better than blood with blood
Taking turns dancing with Maria
While the band plays "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
