Coward Of The County (Rogers Kenny)

capo III 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 E 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." 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'. Spoken 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 E 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." 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'." Whole line spokenE 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 And I heard him say, A D A "I promised you, Dad, not to do the things you done. 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.