BOB'S MUSIC PLAYER

THE COWARD OF THE COUNTY

By: Kenny Rogers

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 brothers 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 not to do the things I've done.
Walk away from trouble if you can.
Now 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, (spoken) and there was three of them!

Tommy opened up 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 these words again.

"Promise me son not to do the things I've done.
Walk away from trouble if you can.
Now 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!"

The Gatlin boys just laughed at him, when he walked into the bar room.
One of them got up and met him halfway 'cross the floor.
When Tommy turned around, they said, "Hey look old yellow's leaving."
(spoken) But you could have hear a pin drop, when Tommy stopped and blocked the door!

Twenty years of crawlin' was bottled up inside him.
He wasn't holding nothin' back, he let 'em have it all!
When Tommy left the bar room, not a Gatlin boy was standin'.
He said, "This one's for Becky!" as he watched the last one fall!

(spoken) And 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.
And papa, I sure hope you understand,
sometimes you gotta fight when you're a man!"

Everyone considered him the coward of the county>