Just a Cop

The funeral line was long,
There's an awful lot of cars,
Folks came out of the restaurants,
They came out of the bars.
The workers at the construction sites
All let their hammers drop.
Someone asked. "What is this all for?"
And they said,"Aw, just a Cop."

Some chuckled at the passing cars.
Some shed a silent tear
Some people said,"It's stupid."
"All these dumb policemen here."
"How come they are not out fighting crime?"
"Or in a doughnut shop?"
"Sure is a lot of trouble,
For someone who's just a Cop."

They blocked the intersections,
They blocked the interstate.
People yelled and cursed,
"Damn, it's gonna make me late!"
"This is really ridiculous!"
"They're makin' us all stop!"
"It seems they are sure wastin' time,
On someone who's just a Cop."

Into the cemetery now,
The slow procession comes,
The woeful Taps are slowly played.
There's loud salutes from guns.
The graveyard workers shake their heads
"This service is a flop."
"There's lots of good words wasted,
On someone who's just a Cop"

Yeah, just a Cop to most folks.
Did his duty every day.
Trying to protect us,
Till they took his life away.
And when he got to heaven,
St. Peter put him at the top.
An angel asked him,
"Who was that?"
And he said, "Aw, just a Cop."

The Judgment:

The Officer stood and faced his God,
Which must always come to pass.
He hoped his shoes were shinning,
Just as brightly as his brass.
"Step forward now, Officer,
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To my church have you been true?"

The Officer squared his shoulder and said,
"No, Lord, I guess I aint,
Because those of us who carry badges can't
always be a saint.

I've had to work most Sundays,
And at times my talk was rough,
And sometimes I've been violent
Because the streets are tough.

But I never took a penny
That wasn't mine to keep.
Though I worked a lot of overtime,
when the bills got too steep.
And I never passed a cry for help
Though at times I shook with fear.
And sometimes, God forgive me,
I've wept an unmanly tear.
I know I don't deserve a place among the people here.
They never wanted me around except to calm their fear.

If you've a place for me here, Lord,
it needn't be so grand.
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don't...I'll understand.

There was silence all around the throne,
where the saints often trod.
As the officer waited quietly for the judgment of his God.

"Step forward now, Officer."
"You've borne your burdens well."
"Come walk a beat on heaven's streets,"
"You've done your time in Hell."

[ Author Unknown -- from 'Aiken Drum' ]