Songfacts®:

• This was lyrically inspired by one-time wrestler Sheriff Buford Pusser, who became the Sheriff of McNairy County in Tennessee between 1964 and 1970. He turned into a folk hero for his one man battle against clandestine gambling dens and illegal distilleries on his patch, though some criticized his tough tactics. A number of films and songs have been based on Pusser's life. For instance, The Drive-By Truckers made him the subject of a trilogy of songs "The Boys from Alabama," "Cottonseed" and "The Buford Stick" on their 2004 album The Dirty South. Also, the 1973 movie Walking Tall was a semi-biographical account of Pusser's colourful career. It was re-made in 2004, in an updated version in which the lawman was re-named Chris Vaughn.
• This was originally included on the band's self-released 2006 debut album of the same name.