Key:
Introduction:
A D E E7
e ---0------2------0------0-----
B ---2------3------0------3-----
A D A
Ev'ryone considered him the coward of the county.
E
He'd never stood one single time to prove the county wrong.
A D A
His mama named him Tommy, the folks just called him yellow,
E A
but something always told me they were reading Tommy wrong.
A D A
He was only ten years old when his daddy died in prison.
E
I looked after Tommy 'cause he was my brother's son.
A D A
I still recall the final words my brother said to Tommy:
E A
"Son, my life is over, but yours is just begun.
A D A
Promise me, son, not to do the things I've done.
D A E
Walk away from trouble if you can.
A D A
It won't mean you're weak if you turn the other cheek.
D E
I hope you're old enough to understand:
E7 A
Son, you don't have to fight to be a man."
(Slide capo to 4th fret)
A D A
There's someone for ev'ryone and Tommy's love was Becky.
E
In her arms he didn't have to prove he was a man.
A D A
One day while he was workin' the Gatlin boys came callin'.
E A
They took turns at Becky.... There was three of them!
A D A
Tommy opened up the door and saw his Becky cryin'.
E
The torn dress, the shattered look was more than he could stand.
A D A
He reached above the fireplace and took down his daddy's picture.
E A
As his tears fell on his daddy's face, he heard these words again:
A D A
"Promise me, son, not to do the things I've done.
D A E
Walk away from trouble if you can.
A D A
It won't mean you're weak if you turn the other cheek.
D E
I hope you're old enough to understand:
E7 A
Son, you don't have to fight to be a man."
(Slide capo to 5th fret)
A D A
The Gatlin boys just laughed at him when he walked into the barroom.
E
One of them got up and met him halfway 'cross the floor.
A D A
When Tommy turned around they said, "Hey look! ol' yellow's leavin'."
E A
But you coulda heard a pin drop when Tommy stopped and blocked the door.
A D A
Twenty years of crawlin' was bottled up inside him.
E
He wasn't holdin' nothin' back he let 'em have it all.
A D A
When Tommy left the barroom not a Gatlin boy was standin'.
E A
He said, "This one's for Becky," as he watched the last one fall.
(Spoken)
A D A
"I promised you, Dad, not to do the things you done.
D A E
I walk away from trouble when I can.
A D A
Now please don't think I'm weak, I didn't turn the other cheek,
D E
and Papa, I sure hope you understand:
E7 A
Sometimes you gotta fight when you're a man."
A D A
Ev'ryone considered him the coward of the county.
COWARD OF THE COUNTY
C F C
Ev'ry one con-sidered him the coward of the county
G
He never stood one single time to prove the county wrong
C F C
His momma named him Tommy the folks just called him yellow
G7 C
Something always told me they were readin' Tommy wrong
F C
He was only ten years old when his daddy died in prison
G
I looked after Tommy 'cos he was my brothers son
C F C
I still recall the final words my brother said to Tommy
G7 C
Son my life is over but yours has just beg-un
C G7 C F C
Promise me son not to do the things I've done
F C G
walk away from trouble if you can
C G7 C F C
Now it won't mean your weak if you turn the other cheek
F G
I hope your old enough to under-stand
Dm7 G7 C
you don't have to fight to be a man
D G D
There's someone for every one and Tommys love was Becky
A
In her arms he didn't have to prove he was a man
D G D
One day while he was workin' the Gatlin boys came callin'
A7 D
They took turns at Becky There was three of them
G D
Tommy open up the door and saw his Becky cryin'
A
The torn dress the shattered look was more than he could stand
D G D
He reached above the fire place and took down his daddys picture
A D
as the tears fell on his Daddys face he heard these words a-gain
D A D G D
Promise me son not to do the things I've done
G D A
walk away from trouble if you can
D A D G D
Now it don't mean your weak if you turn the other cheek
D G A
I hope your old en-ough to understand
A7 D
Son you don't have to fight to be a man
D C D
The Gatlin boys just laughed at him when he walked into the bar room
D G D
when Tommy turned around they said Hey look ol' Yellows leaving
A7
But you could-a heard a pin drop when Tommy stopped and blocked the
door
D G D
Twenty years of crawlin' was bottled up in-side him
A
he wasn't holdin' nothin' back he let 'em have it all
D G D
when Tommy left the Bar room not a Gatlin boy was standin'
A7
He said this one's for Becky as he watched the last one fall
And I heard him say.
D A7 D G D
I promised you Dad not to do the things you done
G D A7
I walk away from trouble when I can
D A7 D G D
now please don't think I'm weak I did-n't turn the other cheek
G A A7
and Poppa I sure hope you understand some-times you've gotta fight
D
when your a man
G D
Everyone considered him the coward of the county