[ti:Coward of The County] [ar:Kenny Rogers] [al:21 Number Ones] [by:] [offset:0] [00:00.88]Artist:kenny rogers [00:02.25]Songs Title:coward of the county [00:05.25] [00:11.88]Ev'ryone considered him the coward of the county [00:17.46]He never stood one single time to prove the county wrong [00:24.11]His mama named him Tommy but folks just called him yellow [00:31.02]But something always told me they were reading Tommy wrong [00:37.98]He was only ten years old when his daddy died in prison [00:44.44]Well I looked after Tommy 'cause he was my brother's son [00:50.02]And I still recall the final words my brother said to Tommy: [00:54.73]"Son my life is over but yours is just begun " [01:04.89]"Promise me son not to do the things I've done [01:09.66]Walk away from trouble if you can [01:14.73]Now it don't mean you're weak if you turn the other cheek [01:20.01]I hope you're old enough to understand: [01:25.28]Son you don't have to fight to be a man " [01:30.61]There's someone for ev'ryone Tommy's love was Becky [01:35.93]In her arms he didn't have to prove he was a man [01:43.66]One day while he was workin' the Gatlin boys came callin' [01:49.05]They took turns at Becky there was three of them [01:57.20]Tommy opened up the door and saw his Becky cryin' [02:03.62]The torn dress the shattered look was more than he could stand [02:09.95]He reached above the fireplace took down his daddy's picture [02:14.40]As the tears fell on his daddy's face he heard these words again [02:23.29]"Promise me son not to do the things I've done [02:28.58]Walk away from trouble if you can [02:33.65]Now it don't mean you're weak if you turn the other cheek [02:38.91]I hope you're old enough to understand: [02:41.55] [02:44.12]Son you don't have to fight to be a man " [02:49.63]The Gatlin boys just laughed at him when he walked into the barroom [02:53.53]One of them got up and met him halfway 'cross the floor [03:02.50]Then Tommy turned around they said Hey look ol' yellow's leavin' " [03:08.84]But you coulda heard a pin drop when Tommy stopped and locked the door [03:16.04]Twenty years of crawlin' was bottled up inside him [03:22.31]He wasn't holdin' nothin' back; he let 'em have it all [03:28.71]When Tommy left the barroom not a Gatlin boy was standin' [03:35.81]He said "This one's for Becky " as he watched the last one fall [03:40.50]And I heard him say: [03:41.77]"I promised you Dad not to do the things you've done [03:46.92]I'll walk away from trouble if I can [03:49.73]Now please don't think I'm weak I couldn't turn the other cheek [03:56.26]And papa I sure hope you understand: [04:02.60]Sometimes you gotta fight when you're a man " [04:08.25]Ev'ryone considered him the coward of the county