HIGHWAY PATROLMAN

Live 18 Nov 2006 version

My name's Joe Roberts, I work for the state
I'm a sergeant out of Perrineville, barracks number eight
I always done an honest job, as honest as I could
Got a brother named Franky, Franky ain't no good

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
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, 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 bride
Them wheat prices kept on droppin' till it was like we were gettin' robbed
Franky came home in '68 and 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, he just ain't no good

Well the night was like any other, I get a call about 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 I hit the lights
I musta done a hundred and ten through Michigan county that night
It was out at the crossroads, yeah, down 'round Willow bank
I seen a Buick with Ohio plates, behind the wheel was Frank

Well I chased him through those county roads
Till a sign said "Canadian border five miles from here"
I pulled over the side of the highway and watched his taillights disappear

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, he just ain't no good

Help me!

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, he just ain't no good

Thank you!

Info

The above lyrics are for the live 18 Nov 2006 performance of HIGHWAY PATROLMAN at Point Theatre in Dublin, Ireland, during The Seeger Sessions Tour. That was the only performance of the song on that tour. The live 18 Nov 2006 version of HIGHWAY PATROLMAN was released on the Live In Dublin album and home video in 2007.

Ticket stub for the 18 Nov 2006 show at Point Theatre, Dublin, Ireland
(Taken from Brucebase)

Live In Dublin

At the end of the Seeger Sessions Tour, the three-night stand at Point Theater in Dublin, Ireland, (17-18-19 Nov 2006) was filmed with nine High Definition cameras. A selection of 23 songs from these three nights was officially released on 05 Jun 2007 on the Live In Dublin album and home video, credited to "Bruce Springsteen With The Sessions Band". "Seeger" was dropped from the band's name for this release, apparently due to the fact that many of the songs are Springsteen originals from his earlier records, or covers that are not related to Pete Seeger.

Live In Dublin is available in four formats: 2-CD set, standard DVD, 2-CD/1-DVD combo set, and Blu-ray disc.

Bruce Springsteen With The Sessions Band -- Live In Dublin (album cover art)

Bruce Springsteen With The Sessions Band -- Live In Dublin (DVD cover art)

The album charted in several countries, but only made it to #1 in Ireland.

The video was edited by Emmy- and Grammy-winner Thom Zimny, with audio mixed by Bob Clearmountain (including 5.1 surround) and mastered by Bob Ludwig.

Credits

Thanks Jake (ol'catfishinthelake at BTX and Greasy Lake) for the lyrics help.

Available Versions

List of available versions of HIGHWAY PATROLMAN on this website:

Page last updated: 23 Jul 2010