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!

Page last updated: 03 Sep 2007

The above lyrics refer to live 18 Nov 2006 performance at The Point Theater, Dublin, Ireland, during The Seeger Sessions Tour. That was the only performance of the song on that tour.

At the end of the Seeger Sessions Tour, the 3-nights stand at The Point Theater, Dublin, Ireland (17-18-19 Nov 2006), was filmed with nine High Definition (HD) cameras. A selection of 23-songs from these 3 nights was officially released in Jun 2007 on Live In Dublin, a live album and DVD, credited to Bruce Springsteen With The Sessions Band. Note the dropping of "Seeger" from the band's name for this release, probably due to the fact that many of the songs on this release are Springsteen originals from his earlier records, or covers that are not related to Pete Seeger. Live In Dublin is available in 4 formats:

• A 2-CD set
• A standard DVD
• A 2-CD/1-DVD combo set
• A Blu-ray disc

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

HIGHWAY PATROLMAN was included on Live In Dublin, taken from the second night (18 Nov 2006), and the above lyrics refer to that version. Check out also the other available versions of this song (all have very similar lyrics):

• Album's version
• Live 20 Aug 1984 version
• Live 19 Oct 1984 version
• Live 07 Jan 1985 version
• Live 25 Apr 1996 version
• Live 23 Jun 2005 version
• Live 18 Nov 2006 version

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