Sandy MaloneSan Antonio, TX – Country music legend George Strait released a new ballad dedicated to the men and women of law enforcement on March 14.
“The Weight of the Badge” debuted ahead of the March 29th release of Strait’s new album Honky Tonk Time Machine, Rolling Stone reported.
Strait co-wrote the song with his son Bubba, and his long-time song-writing partner Dean Dillon, according to Taste of Country.
He first performed it in February in Las Vegas.
When Strait introduced the song before he played it, he told his fans that “when a policeman puts a badge on it gets pretty heavy, so it’s called ‘Weight of the Badge,’” Country Music Nation reported.
The song tells the story of a law enforcement officer who followed in the steps of his father. It says the badge isn’t heavy until you pin it on.
“He’s seen it all, in his 15 years. Watching our backs, facing our fears,” the lyrics explain.
The officer in the song has 15 years on the police force and walks a “razor fine” dangerous line every day when he leaves his family at home to go out and protect and serve on the midnight shift, the song says.
But in the second verse, the officer has been injured in the line of duty and wakes up in the hospital surrounded by his family.
Even though he’s been injured, the officer vows to keep fighting and says he will never buckle under the weight of the badge.
Country Music Nation reported there wasn’t a dry eye in the audience by the time Strait finished the song.
The song pays tribute to the law enforcement community without touching on any controversial issues.
Dirt Road Anthems said “the lyrics do convey a pure, honest story of someone who works with the mindset of helping others and risking their own safety in hopes of saving others.”
Listen to “The Weight of the Badge” below: