What it's really about is vigilante justice...and about the macho violence that is a thread through much of country music. Not long after he recorded "Coward of the County," Kenny Rogers recorded "The Unknown Love," a song which treats a man who kills his possibly cheating wife or girlfriend ("I did the deed my heart demanded of me") and is about to be hanged, and is in the song treated as heroic ("unknown love"--unknown soldier"). Fortunately, at the same time as this, Reba McIntire had one of her most beautiful songs out, one about love and forgiveness: "Whoever's in New England." But, of course, women are expected to be forgiving in country music: "Stand by Your Man," "A Goodhearted Woman (in Love with a Good Timing Man)," etc.