Just so everyone can read it, here's Kenny Rogers' version. I tend to choke up a bit when I sing this one...Tiger
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,
But 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 '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.
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 workin', the Gatlin boys came callin',
And 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.
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, old Yellow's leavin'",
But you could have heard a pin drop when Tommy stopped and locked 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.
(...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.
sj