HIGHWAY PATROLMAN

Live 25 Apr 1996 version



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, Franky ain't no good

Ever since we was young kids, well it's been the same come down
I get a call on the shortwave, Franky's in trouble downtown
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 Franky laughin' and drinkin', nothin' 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 strayin' 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 droppin' till it was like we were gettin' robbed
Franky gone home in '68, me I took this job

Yeah me and Franky laughin' and drinkin', nothin' 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 strayin' like any brother would
Man turns his back on his family, well he just ain't no good

Well the night was like any other, well 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
Was a girl cryin' at a table, it was Frank, they said

Well I went out and I jumped in my car and then I hit the lights
Well I musta done a hundred and ten through Michigan county that night
It was out at the crossroads, way down 'round Willows bank
I 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"
Pulled over the side of the highway and watched his taillights disappear

Me and Franky laughin' and drinkin', nothin' 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 strayin' like any brother would
Man turns his back on his family, just ain't no good


Info

The above lyrics are for the live 25 Apr 1996 performance of HIGHWAY PATROLMAN at Brixton Academy in London, England, during The Ghost Of Tom Joad Solo Acoustic Tour. This was the song's tour debut.

Ticket stub for the 25 Apr 1996 show at Brixton Academy, London, England
Ticket stub for the 25 Apr 1996 show at Brixton Academy, London, England
(Taken from Brucebase)

Available Versions

List of available versions of HIGHWAY PATROLMAN on this website:

HIGHWAY PATROLMAN [Album version]
HIGHWAY PATROLMAN [Live 05 Aug 1984 version]
HIGHWAY PATROLMAN [Live 20 Aug 1984 version]
HIGHWAY PATROLMAN [Live 19 Oct 1984 version]
HIGHWAY PATROLMAN [Live 07 Jan 1985 version]
HIGHWAY PATROLMAN [Live 25 Apr 1996 version]
HIGHWAY PATROLMAN [Live 23 Jun 2005 version]
HIGHWAY PATROLMAN [Live 18 Nov 2006 version]
HIGHWAY PATROLMAN [Johnny Cash's cover version]

Page last updated: 31 Jul 2010