Coward Of The County
Kenny Rogers
CEv'ryone considered him the Fcoward of the Ccounty.
He'd never stood one single time to prove the county Gwrong.
His Cmama named him Tommy, the Ffolks just called him Cyellow,
but something always told me they were Greading Tommy Cwrong.
CHe was only ten years old when his Fdaddy died in Cprison.
I looked after Tommy 'cause he was my brother's Gson.
I Cstill recall the final words my Fbrother said to CTommy:
"Son, my life is over, but Gyours is just Cbegun.
CPromise me, son, not to Fdo the things I've Cdone.
FWalk away from Ctrouble if you Gcan.
CIt won't mean you're weak if you Fturn the other Ccheek.
I hope you're old Fenough to underGstand:
Son, G7you don't have to fight to be a Cman."
CThere's someone for ev'ryone and FTommy's love was CBecky.
In her arms he didn't have to prove he was a Gman.
One Cday while he was workin' the FGatlin boys came Ccallin'.
GC
CThey took turns at FBecky There was three of Gthem!
CTommy opened up the door and Fsaw his Becky Ccryin'.
The torn dress, the shattered look was more than he could Gstand.
He Creached above the fireplace and took Fdown his daddy's Cpicture.
As his tears fell on his daddy's face, he Gheard these words Cagain:
C"Promise me, son, not to Fdo the things I've Cdone.
FWalk away from Ctrouble if you Gcan.
CIt won't mean you're weak if you Fturn the other Ccheek.
I hope you're old Fenough to underGstand:
Son, G7you don't have to fight to be a Cman."
CThe Gatlin boys just laughed at him when he Fwalked into the Cbarroom.
One of them got up and met him halfway 'cross the Gfloor.
When CTommy turned around they said, "Hey Flook! ol' yellow's Cleavin'."
GC
CBut you coulda heard a pin drop when Tommy Fstopped and blocked the Gdoor.
CTwenty years of crawlin' was Fbottled up insCide him.
He wasn't holdin' nothin' back; he let 'em have it Gall.
When CTommy left the barroom not a FGatlin boy was Cstandin'.
He said, "This one's for Becky," as he Gwatched the last one Cfall.
CAnd I heard him Gsay,
C"I promised you, Dad, not to Fdo the things you Cdone.
FI walk away from Ctrouble when I Gcan.
Now Cplease don't think I'm weak, I didn't Fturn the other Ccheek,
and Papa, I sure Fhope you underGstand:
SomeG7times you gotta fight when you're a Cman."
FC
CEv'ryone considered Fhim the coward Cof the county.
CCOWARD OF THE COUNTY
D#Ev'ry one con-sidered him the G#coward of the D#county
He never stood one single time to prove the county A#wrong
His D#momma named him Tommy the G#folks just called him D#yellow
Something always told me they were readin' A#7Tommy D#wrong
He was only ten years old when his G#daddy died in D#prison
I looked after Tommy 'cos he was my brothers A#son
I D#still recall the final words my G#brother said to D#Tommy
Son my life is over but yours has A#7just beg-D#un
D#Promise me son A#7not D#to do G#the things I've D#done
G#walk away from D#trouble if you A#can
Now D#it won't mean your weak A#7if D#you turG#n the other D#cheek
I hope your old enouG#gh to under-A#stand
Fm7you don't have to figA#7ht to be a D#man
There's Fsomeone for every one and A#Tommys love was FBecky
In her arms he didn't have to prove he was a Cman
One Fday while he was workin' the A#Gatlin boys came Fcallin'
They took turns at Becky There was three C7of themF
Tommy open up the door and A#saw his Becky Fcryin'
The torn dress the shattered look was more than he could Cstand
He Freached above the fire place and took A#down his daddys Fpicture
as the tears fell on his Daddys face he heard these wordCs a-Fgain
FPromise me son Cnot Fto do A#the things I've Fdone
A#walk away from Ftrouble if you Ccan
Now Fit don't mean your weak Cif Fyou turn A#the other Fcheek
I Fhope your old en-ougA#h to understandC
Son you don't have to C7fight to be a Fman
The FGatlin boys just laughed at him when he A#walked into the Fbar room
one of them got up and met him half way 'cross the floorC7
when FTommy turned around they said Hey A#look ol' Yellows Fleaving
But you could-a heard a pin drop when Tommy stopped and C7blocked the
door
FTwenty years of crawlin' was A#bottled up in-Fside him
he wasn't holdin' nothin' back he let 'em have it Call
when FTommy left the Bar room not a A#Gatlin boy was standiFn'
He said this one's for Becky as he watched the C7last one fall
And I heard him say.
I Fpromised you Dad C7not Fto do A#the things you doneF
I A#walk away from Ftrouble when I canC7
now Fplease don't think I'm weak I C7did-Fn't turn A#the other cheekF
and Poppa I sure hope A#you understaCnd some-C7times you've gotta fight
when your a Fman
Everyone considered him the A#coward of the Fcounty