He was born in the big iron city
Deep in the heart of dixie, yes he was now
Raised on the good book
Taught to take a good look at what's going on
His daddy was a Birmingham lawman
A servant of the people through and through
They say blood is thicker than water
So the boy got a badge and a suit of blue
He was long on southern justice
Practiced his law out on the street
He drew the line for the criminal mind to see
Dedicated to keep God's children free
There are two sides to every big city
And he walked on the one that wasn't pretty
A solitary ranger
He had to deal with danger 'round every turn
Every day was a tightrope of decision
Between a forty four and a heart of gold
Some of those hard case confrontations
Cut him like a switch blade to his soul
He was long on southern justice
Practiced his law out on the street
Drew the line for the criminal mind to see
Dedicated to keep God's children free
Late one night down on crack street alley
He walked up on a bad deal goin' down
He knew what he'd done
When he saw that shotgun swing around
He drew then froze in hesitation
When he saw that fourteen year old face
Then the fire from that shotgun barrel
Blew all his burdens away
Blew his burdens away
He was long on southern justice
Practiced his law out on the street
He drew the line for the criminal mind to see
Dedicated to keep God's children free
Yeah, he was long, long on southern justice
Practiced his law out on the street
Drew the line for the criminal mind to see
Dedicated to keep God's children free
Dedicated to keep God's children free
Oh Lord, keep them free
Ohh got to keep them free, yeah yeah
Ohh [incomprehensible] to see