Somebody killed a policeman today
And a part of America died
Will be buried with him at his side
The suspect who shot will stand up in court,
With counsel demanding his rights
While a young widowed mother must work for her kids,
and spend long, lonely nights
The beat that he walked was a battlefield too,
Just as if he'd gone to war
Though the flag of out nation won't fly at half mast,
To his name they will add a gold star
Yep, somebody killed a policeman today,
In your town or mine
While we slept in comfort behind our locked doors,
A cop put his life on the line
Now his ghost walks a beat on a dark city street,
And he stands at each new rookie's side
He answered the call, of himself gave his all
And a part of America died.