Coward of the county lyrics

Artist  : Kenny rogers 
Song : Coward of the county
 
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 by brother’s
son
I still recall the final words my brother said to
Tommy
„son, my life is over, but yours has just begun“

CHORUS Promise me son not to do the things I’ve
done
walk away from trouble if you can
it won’t mean you’re weak if you turn the other
cheek
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 (there was three of
them)

Tommy opened the door and saw his Becky crying
The torn dress, the shattered look was more than
he could stand
he reached above the fireplace and took down his
daddy‘s picture
as his tears fell on his daddy’s face, he heard
this word again

CHORUS

The Gatlin boys just laughed at him when he
walked into the bar room
one of them got up and met him half way cross the
floor
when Tommy turned around they said „hey look old
Yellow’s leaving“
but you could’ve heard a pin drop when Tommy
stopped and locked the door

Twenty years of crawling were bottled up inside
him
he would hold nothing back - - he let ‘em have it
all
when 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

(now hear 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
and papa I should hope you understand
sometimes you gotta fight when you’re a man“
Everyone considered him the coward of the county