Coward Of The County
Kenny Rogers
AEv'ryone considered him the Dcoward of the Acounty.
He'd never stood one single time to prove the county Ewrong.
His Amama named him Tommy, the Dfolks just called him Ayellow,
but something always told me they were Ereading Tommy Awrong.
AHe was only ten years old when his Ddaddy died in Aprison.
I looked after Tommy 'cause he was my brother's Eson.
I Astill recall the final words my Dbrother said to ATommy:
"Son, my life is over, but Eyours is just Abegun.
APromise me, son, not to Ddo the things I've Adone.
DWalk away from Atrouble if you Ecan.
AIt won't mean you're weak if you Dturn the other Acheek.
I hope you're old Denough to underEstand:
Son, E7you don't have to fight to be a Aman."
AThere's someone for ev'ryone and DTommy's love was ABecky.
In her arms he didn't have to prove he was a Eman.
One Aday while he was workin' the DGatlin boys came Acallin'.
EA
AThey took turns at DBecky There was three of Ethem!
ATommy opened up the door and Dsaw his Becky Acryin'.
The torn dress, the shattered look was more than he could Estand.
He Areached above the fireplace and took Ddown his daddy's Apicture.
As his tears fell on his daddy's face, he Eheard these words Aagain:
A"Promise me, son, not to Ddo the things I've Adone.
DWalk away from Atrouble if you Ecan.
AIt won't mean you're weak if you Dturn the other Acheek.
I hope you're old Denough to underEstand:
Son, E7you don't have to fight to be a Aman."
AThe Gatlin boys just laughed at him when he Dwalked into the Abarroom.
One of them got up and met him halfway 'cross the Efloor.
When ATommy turned around they said, "Hey Dlook! ol' yellow's Aleavin'."
EA
ABut you coulda heard a pin drop when Tommy Dstopped and blocked the Edoor.
ATwenty years of crawlin' was Dbottled up insAide him.
He wasn't holdin' nothin' back; he let 'em have it Eall.
When ATommy left the barroom not a DGatlin boy was Astandin'.
He said, "This one's for Becky," as he Ewatched the last one Afall.
AAnd I heard him Esay,
A"I promised you, Dad, not to Ddo the things you Adone.
DI walk away from Atrouble when I Ecan.
Now Aplease don't think I'm weak, I didn't Dturn the other Acheek,
and Papa, I sure Dhope you underEstand:
SomeE7times you gotta fight when you're a Aman."
DA
AEv'ryone considered Dhim the coward Aof the county.
ACOWARD OF THE COUNTY
CEv'ry one con-sidered him the Fcoward of the Ccounty
He never stood one single time to prove the county Gwrong
His Cmomma named him Tommy the Ffolks just called him Cyellow
Something always told me they were readin' G7Tommy Cwrong
He was only ten years old when his Fdaddy died in Cprison
I looked after Tommy 'cos he was my brothers Gson
I Cstill recall the final words my Fbrother said to CTommy
Son my life is over but yours has G7just beg-Cun
CPromise me son G7not Cto do Fthe things I've Cdone
Fwalk away from Ctrouble if you Gcan
Now Cit won't mean your weak G7if Cyou turFn the other Ccheek
I hope your old enouFgh to under-Gstand
Dm7you don't have to figG7ht to be a Cman
There's Dsomeone for every one and GTommys love was DBecky
In her arms he didn't have to prove he was a Aman
One Dday while he was workin' the GGatlin boys came Dcallin'
They took turns at Becky There was three A7of themD
Tommy open up the door and Gsaw his Becky Dcryin'
The torn dress the shattered look was more than he could Astand
He Dreached above the fire place and took Gdown his daddys Dpicture
as the tears fell on his Daddys face he heard these wordAs a-Dgain
DPromise me son Anot Dto do Gthe things I've Ddone
Gwalk away from Dtrouble if you Acan
Now Dit don't mean your weak Aif Dyou turn Gthe other Dcheek
I Dhope your old en-ougGh to understandA
Son you don't have to A7fight to be a Dman
The DGatlin boys just laughed at him when he Gwalked into the Dbar room
one of them got up and met him half way 'cross the floorA7
when DTommy turned around they said Hey Glook ol' Yellows Dleaving
But you could-a heard a pin drop when Tommy stopped and A7blocked the
door
DTwenty years of crawlin' was Gbottled up in-Dside him
he wasn't holdin' nothin' back he let 'em have it Aall
when DTommy left the Bar room not a GGatlin boy was standiDn'
He said this one's for Becky as he watched the A7last one fall
And I heard him say.
I Dpromised you Dad A7not Dto do Gthe things you doneD
I Gwalk away from Dtrouble when I canA7
now Dplease don't think I'm weak I A7did-Dn't turn Gthe other cheekD
and Poppa I sure hope Gyou understaAnd some-A7times you've gotta fight
when your a Dman
Everyone considered him the Gcoward of the Dcounty