There are some country music singers who don’t fit the persona of a typical constantly outraged Hollywood liberal elitist.
They are notoriously not bogged down in a public perception that screams spoiled multimillionaire who complains about all the trials and tribulations of being a famous celebrity. Largely, country is filled with people who despise that lifestyle.
And that’s the case with a country music legend’s latest song release.
Who are the great country music legends? You might go with Garth Brooks or a new age Chris Stapleton.
Where does George Strait fall in line (pun intended)?
Strait is one of Country music’s biggest icons with a Grammy award nominated track record that spans decades.
He finally received his first win in 2009 with Best Album for Troubadour and he also became the ACM artist of the decade in that same year.
You already know of his accolades.
Well Strait just released new music off his forthcoming album, Honky Tonk Time Machine, and one of the songs “The Weight of the Badge” explicitly glorifies our hard working police officers.
The ballad revolves around a police officer who consistently puts his life in harms way to protect his community while growing tiresome of the demand it puts on his body.
Some of the lyrics are, “He swore that oath to protect and serve / Puts his heart and soul into both those words / Lays his life on the line / The line he walks is razor fine, Tempered strength is always tough / But he ain’t gonna buckle / Under the weight of the badge.”
You can listen to the song here.
A tribute to all of the men and women in uniform.
Pre-order 'Honky Tonk Time Machine' now and get this new song "The Weight Of The Badge" + 4 more tracks instantly!
Full album available March 29th! https://t.co/70avQiM4jv pic.twitter.com/U0Q3OnQIUd
— George Strait (@GeorgeStrait) March 15, 2019
He’s right. Police officers tirelessly put their lives on the line for us and some of us are ungrateful to them.
Yet they do it anyway.
His son Bubba and their longtime songwriting partner Dean Dillon were the co-writers of “The Weight of the Badge.”
Strait performed the song during the February run of his Las Vegas show, “Strait to Vegas.” You have to admit that’s a clever pun.
It’s the fifth song that he’s shared from an album on which Strait remains committed to traditional country, touching on themes of a lively country bar with the title track and “Every Little Honky Tonk Bar,” honoring two of the most important parts of his life on “God and Country Music” and his favorite tequila with “Codigo.”
It can be harrowing for them and we should be empathetic towards them and the incredible job they do every day.
Honky Tonk Time Machine is set for release on March 29. Strait announced another pair of dates for his Vegas show on Dec. 6 and 7, in addition to shows on Aug. 23 and 24.