C             Bb              C  
Billy Dalton staggered on the sidewalk 
                  Bb             C  
Someone said he stumbled and he fell 
                       Bb             C  
Six squad cars came screaming to the rescue 
                  Bb            C  
Hauled old Billy Dalton off to jail 

            F             C              F 
'Cause the law is for protection of the people 
                     C            F 
Rules are rules and any fool can see 
                   Eb               F 
We don't need no drunks like Billy Dalton 
  Dm                              G       G7 
Scarin' decent folks like you and me, no siree 

           C            Bb            C 
Homer Lee Hunnicut was nothing but a hippy 
                   Bb              C 
Walking thru this world without a care 
                     Bb              C 
Then one day, six strapping brave policemen 
                 Bb              C 
Held down Homer Lee and cut his hair 

            F             C              F 
'Cause the law is for protection of the people 
                     C            F 
Rules are rules and any fool can see 
                 Eb             F 
We don't need no hairy headed hippies 
  Dm                              G       G7 
Scarin' decent folks like you and me, no siree 

     C                Bb                 C 
So thank your lucky stars you've got protection 
                   Bb              C 
Walk the line, and never mind the cost 
                           Bb            C 
And don't wonder who them lawmen was protecting 
                      Bb             C 
When they nailed the savior to the cross. 

            F             C              F 
'Cause the law is for protection of the people 
                     C            F 
Rules are rules and any fool can see 
                  Eb               F 
We don't need no riddle speaking prophets 
  Dm                              G       G7 
Scarin' decent folks like you and me, no siree