Songtext:
Words and music by Bruce Springsteen
From Badlands: A Tribute to Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska
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 Franky and Frank he 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 Franky'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?
CHORUS 1:?
Yeah, me and Franky laughing and drinking nothing feels better than blood on blood?
Takin' turns dancin' with Marie 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?
Well Franky 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 'till it was like we were getting robbed?
Franky came home in '68, and me, I took this job?
CHORUS 2:?
Yea we're laughing and drinking nothing feels better than blood on blood?
Takin' turns dancin' with Marie 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?
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 lying on the floor lookin' bad bleedin' hard from his head?
There was a girl crying at a table and it was Frank, they said?
Well I went out and I jumped in my car and I hit the lights?
But I must of 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?
'till a sign said Canadian border five miles from here?
I pulled over to the side of the highway and watched his taillights disappear?
CHORUS 3:?
Me and Franky laughing and drinking nothing feels better than blood on blood?
Taking turns dancing with Marie 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
From Badlands: A Tribute to Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska
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 Franky and Frank he 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 Franky'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?
CHORUS 1:?
Yeah, me and Franky laughing and drinking nothing feels better than blood on blood?
Takin' turns dancin' with Marie 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?
Well Franky 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 'till it was like we were getting robbed?
Franky came home in '68, and me, I took this job?
CHORUS 2:?
Yea we're laughing and drinking nothing feels better than blood on blood?
Takin' turns dancin' with Marie 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?
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 lying on the floor lookin' bad bleedin' hard from his head?
There was a girl crying at a table and it was Frank, they said?
Well I went out and I jumped in my car and I hit the lights?
But I must of 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?
'till a sign said Canadian border five miles from here?
I pulled over to the side of the highway and watched his taillights disappear?
CHORUS 3:?
Me and Franky laughing and drinking nothing feels better than blood on blood?
Taking turns dancing with Marie 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
