“The Badge” is a Poison Idea song that Pantera covered for The Crow film soundtrack in 1994. It was later included as a bonus track on some editions of Far Beyond Driven.
[Intro: Sample]
Suck on this
[Verse 1]
Young and dumb, truth and justice, fantasy
Fresh out of the academy
Five-time loser bust his head, make your day
Unless you're paid off then you look away
Do you think this corruption will ever stop
What makes a person want to be a cop
Ran a red light, storm the house and bust the guy
Do you like to see his children cry
Pick up a hooker and take her for a little ride
But get sucked off on the side
Sworn to serve and protect, forget the killing
Badge-wearing fascist villain
Pissed in the street, you bust the guy
Do you like to see his children cry
[Chorus]
The badge means you suck
A child lies there dead
As you look back, what goes through your head
Some still call him a pig
Some still call him a pig
[Verse 2]
Young and tough, truth and justice, fantasy
Fresh out of the academy
Five-time loser bust his head, make your day
Unless you're paid off then you look away
He burned a flag, storm the house and bust the guy
Do you like to see his children cry
Ran a red light, take her for a little ride
But get sucked off on the side
[Chorus]
The badge means you suck
A child lays there dead
As you look back, what goes through your head
[Outro]
Talk to them, you can work it out
You better not even try it
You make a play for his gun
They'll kill you say it was a riot
RIOT
What's behind the badge?
[Outro: Sample]
You crazy son of a bitch!
Fucking son of a bitch!
You. I'll kill you! I'll kill you!
I'll kill you! I'll kill you!
I'll kill you! I'll fucking kill you!
Crazy son of a bitch I'll kill you!
The Badge was written by Tom Roberts & Jerry Lang.
The Badge was produced by Terry Date.
Frontman Phil Anselmo told ArtistDirect that Poison Idea was an influence in his own writing:
Poison Idea’s Pick Your King record was really balls-out, one-take hardcore that fucking delivered. I’m a frigging music nerd, dude! I wear that shit on my sleeve. I think everybody knows that.