Everyone considered him
|
The coward of the county
|
He'd never stood one single time
|
To prove the county wrong
|
His mama named him Tommy
|
But folks just called him yellow
|
Something always told me
|
They were reading Tommy wrong
|
|
He was only ten years old
|
When his daddy died in prison
|
I looked after Tommy
|
'Cause he was my brother's son
|
I still recall the final words
|
My brother said to Tommy
|
Son my life is over
|
But yours has just begun
|
|
Promise me, son
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Not to do the things I've done
|
Walk away from trouble if you can
|
Now it don't mean you're weak
|
If you turn the other cheek
|
And I hope you're old enough to understand
|
Son, you don't have to fight to be a man
|
|
There's someone for everyone
|
And Tommy's love was Becky
|
In her arms he didn't have
|
To prove he was a man
|
One day while he was working
|
The Gatlin boys came calling
|
They took turns at Becky
|
N'there was three of them
|
Tommy opened up the door
|
And saw Becky crying
|
The torn dress, the shattered look
|
Was more than he could stand
|
He reached above the fireplace
|
Took down his daddy's picture
|
As his tears fell on his daddy's face
|
I heard these words again
|
|
Promise me, son
|
Not to do the things I've done
|
Walk away from trouble if you can
|
Now it don't mean you're weak
|
If you turn the other cheek
|
And I hope you're old enough to understand
|
Son, you don't have to fight to be a man
|
|
The Gatlin boys just laughed at him
|
When he walked into the barroom
|
One of them got up
|
And met him half way cross the floor
|
Tommy turned around they said
|
Hey look, old yeller's leavin'
|
You could've heard a pin drop
|
When Tommy stopped and locked the door
|
|
Twenty years of crawling
|
Was bottled up inside him
|
He wasn't holding nothing back
|
He let 'em have it all
|
Tommy left the bar room
|
Not a Gatlin boy was standing
|
He said, This one's for Becky
|
As he watched the last one fall
|
N' I heard him say
|
|
I promised you, Dad
|
Not to do the things you've done
|
I walk away from trouble when I can
|
Now please don't think I'm weak
|
I didn't turn the other cheek
|
Papa, I should hope you understand
|
Sometimes you gotta fight
|
When you're a man
|
|
Everyone considered him
|
The coward of the county
|
|
-----------------
|
Coward Of The County
|
| Kenny Rogers |
