The Weight of the Badge

Album: Honky Tonk Time Machine (2019)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • George Strait tips his hat to policemen and women on his melancholy tune. He wrote the song with his son, Bubba, and frequent collaborator Dean Dillon after an encounter with an officer during the ceremony honoring him with the Texan of the Year Award.

    He spends his life just like his dad's
    Driving away under the weight of the badge


    Strait explained that during the ceremony one of the security officers was talking to his grandson Harvey. He let the little boy play with his badge and pin it on his shirt.

    "And I just got to thinking about that because it really wasn't that heavy until you put it on it and then it means, it really gets heavy," Strait added. "So, that was one of those things I thought was a real important message especially these days and times."
  • The reflective song focuses in on one officer, painting a picture of him leaving his family behind as he goes into the line of duty each day.

    It's gonna be a long one
    Another graveyard shift


    Later the officer finds himself in the hospital after being injured on the job. His family is by his bedside praying that he pulls through.
  • When this song debuted at #56 on Billboard's Country Airplay chart, George Strait became the first artist to clock up 100 entries on the tally.
  • The video focuses on police officers, firefighters, and other first responders, as well as their families, giving insight on what it means to live every day bearing the weight of the badge. Strait released the visual on October 28, 2021, National First Responders Day.

Comments: 4

  • Robert from ScThis song is so true you really deal with it 24 hrs a day along with your family. These people that don't care about the police and first responders need to learn what these people go thru and see everyday support them don't do them. There might be that time you really need them.
  • Sharon Grealish ReynoldsIn Graniteville,SC You are Family Blood or not. Our first responders tried their best! Thank You for such a Great & Beautiful Song. Salute! Love Sharon Grealish Reynolds GHS 80!,SC where Chlorine was let out onto My Hometown & Our first responders to the terrible spill! Graniteville is a Small textile town SC. Raised in Graniteville SC! When I heard Your Song, George it reminded Me of The Terrible train derailment in Graniteville SC.
  • Workman Foster & Theresa from Logan Wv thanks george and most of all thanks to all of you officers both men and women .
  • Donna from Saskatchewan Love this song and it has so much meaning to me as I have several immediate family in the force. I get the song is focused on one certain story. I do wished the word “he” could have been changed to “they”. They all have many stories, good and bad.
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