Highway Patrolman

(album: Grandpa's Guitar - 2014)

My name is Joe Roberts, I work for the state
I'm a sergeant out on Perenville barracks number 8
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 short wave, 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 on blood
Taking turns dancing with Maria while the band played "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 deferment, 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, and me, I took this job

Yeah, me and Frankie laughing and drinking, nothing feels better than blood on blood
Taking turns dancing with Maria while the band played "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 ain't no friend of mine

The night was like any other, I got a call 'bout a quarter to nine
There was trouble at a roadhouse 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 I jumped in my car, then I hit the lights
I must have done about a hundred and ten to Michigan County that night
It was down by the crossroads, out by willow bank
Seen the Buick with Ohio plates, behind the wheel was Frank

Well, I chased him through them county roads, 'til the sign said Canadian border five miles from here
Pulled over to the side out the highway, watched the taillights disappear

Yeah, me and Frankie laughing and drinking, nothing feels better than blood on blood
Taking turns dancing with Maria while the band played "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