About the song
Kris Kristofferson’s “The Law Is for Protection of the People”, a song that cuts like a honed steel blade straight to the heart of social anxieties. Released in 1970, amidst the tumult of the Vietnam War and burgeoning counterculture movements, this track from Kristofferson’s self-titled debut album throws a sardonic spotlight on the complexities of law and order.
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Kristofferson, a Rhodes Scholar turned Nashville outsider, was never one to shy away from social commentary in his music. “The Law Is for Protection of the People” exemplifies this perfectly. With a dry, almost world-weary drawl, he weaves a series of seemingly unconnected vignettes.
A drunken Billy Dalton hauled off to jail, a ragged Charlie Watson arrested for vagrancy, a hippie named Homer Lee apprehended for his long hair – all in the name of public safety. The repeated refrain, “The law is for protection of the people / Rules are rules and any fool can see” drips with bitter irony. Is it truly the people being protected, or a specific idea of order?
The song cleverly avoids easy answers. We never learn the full stories behind these characters. Were Billy Dalton and Charlie Watson truly threats, or simply down on their luck? Was Homer Lee’s long hair a genuine threat, or a symbol of rebellion that challenged the status quo?
Kristofferson forces us to question the arbitrary nature of some laws and the selective enforcement that can leave the disenfranchised particularly vulnerable.
But the song’s brilliance lies not just in its social commentary, but also in its masterful use of language. The simple, almost nursery rhyme-like structure of the verses belies the depth of the lyrics. The repeated use of “decent folks like you and me” creates a sense of “us vs. them,” highlighting the song’s undercurrent of social division.
The final verse’s reference to the crucifixion of Jesus, “Don’t wonder who them lawmen was protecting / When they nailed the savior to the cross”, is a powerful and provocative statement. Is blind adherence to the law always the path to righteousness?
“The Law Is for Protection of the People” is a song that lingers long after the last note fades. It’s a call to examine the foundations of our legal system, to question who it truly serves, and to recognize the human cost that can sometimes come with the cold, hard application of the law.