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