My name is Joe Roberts I work for the state
Nama saya Joe Roberts, saya bekerja untuk negara.
I'm a sergeant out of Perrineville barracks number 8
Saya seorang sersan di barak Perrineville nomor 8.
I always done an honest job as honest as I could
Saya selalu melakukan pekerjaan yang jujur, sejujur yang saya bisa.
I got a brother named Franky and Franky ain't no good
Saya punya saudara bernama Franky, dan Franky itu nggak baik.

Now ever since we was young kids it's been the same come down
Sejak kami masih kecil, semuanya selalu sama.
I get a call over the radio Franky's in trouble downtown
Saya dapat panggilan lewat radio, Franky bermasalah di pusat kota.
Well if it was any other man, I'd put him straight away
Kalau itu orang lain, saya akan langsung menangkapnya.
But when it's your brother sometimes you look the other way
Tapi kalau itu saudara sendiri, kadang kita berpura-pura tidak tahu.

Me and Franky laughin' and drinkin' nothin' feels better than blood on blood
Saya dan Franky tertawa dan minum, nggak ada yang lebih baik dari darah yang mengikat.
Takin' turns dancin' with Maria as the band played "Night of the Johnstown Flood"
Bergantian menari dengan Maria saat band memainkan "Malam Banjir Johnstown".
I catch him when he's strayin' like any brother would
Saya menjaga dia saat tersesat, seperti saudara pada umumnya.
Man turns his back on his family well he just ain't no good
Orang yang membelakangi keluarganya, ya jelas nggak baik.

Well Franky went in the army back in 1965 I got a farm deferment settled down took Maria for my wife
Franky masuk tentara tahun 1965, saya dapat penangguhan untuk bertani, lalu menikahi Maria.
But them wheat prices kept on droppin' till it was like we were gettin' robbed
Tapi harga gandum terus turun, rasanya seperti kami sedang dirampok.
Franky came home in '68 and me I took this job
Franky pulang tahun '68, dan saya mengambil pekerjaan ini.

Yea we're laughin' and drinkin' nothin' feels better than blood on blood
Ya, kami tertawa dan minum, nggak ada yang lebih baik dari darah yang mengikat.
Takin' turns dancin' with Maria as the band played "Night of the Johnstown Flood"
Bergantian menari dengan Maria saat band memainkan "Malam Banjir Johnstown".
I catch him when he's strayin', teach him how to walk that line
Saya menjaga dia saat tersesat, mengajarinya bagaimana menjalani hidup.
Man turns his back on his family he ain't no friend of mine
Orang yang membelakangi keluarganya, dia bukan teman saya.

The night was like any other, I got a call 'bout quarter to nine
Malam itu seperti malam lainnya, saya dapat panggilan sekitar jam delapan kurang seperempat.
There was trouble in a roadhouse out on the Michigan line
Ada masalah di sebuah rumah makan di perbatasan Michigan.
There was a kid lyin' on the floor lookin' bad, bleedin' hard from his head there was a girl cryin' at a table, it was Frank they said
Ada seorang anak tergeletak di lantai, terlihat parah, berdarah dari kepalanya, ada seorang gadis menangis di meja, mereka bilang itu Frank.
Well I went out and I jumped in my car and I hit the lights
Saya keluar, melompat ke mobil, dan menyalakan lampu darurat.
I must of done 110 through Michigan county that night
Saya pasti melaju 110 di jalanan Michigan malam itu.

It was out at the crossroads down round Willow bank
Itu terjadi di persimpangan dekat Willow bank.
Seen a Buick with Ohio plates behind the wheel was Frank
Saya melihat sebuah Buick dengan pelat Ohio, di belakang kemudi itu Frank.
Well I chased him through them county roads till a sign said Canadian border 5 miles from here
Saya mengejarnya melalui jalan-jalan kabupaten sampai ada tanda yang bilang perbatasan Kanada 5 mil dari sini.
I pulled over the side of the highway and watched his taillights disappear
Saya menepi di pinggir jalan dan melihat lampu belakangnya menghilang.

Me and Franky laughin' and drinkin' nothin' feels better than blood on blood
Saya dan Franky tertawa dan minum, nggak ada yang lebih baik dari darah yang mengikat.
Takin' turns dancin' with Maria as the band played "Night of the Johnstown Flood"
Bergantian menari dengan Maria saat band memainkan "Malam Banjir Johnstown".
I catch him when he's strayin' like any brother would
Saya menjaga dia saat tersesat, seperti saudara pada umumnya.
Man turns his back on his family well he just ain't no good
Orang yang membelakangi keluarganya, ya jelas nggak baik.