Coward of the County Kenny Rogers
Everyone considered[A] him the coward of the coun[D]ty[A]
He'd never stood one single time to prove the county wr[E]ong.
His ma[A]ma named him Tommy, but fo[D]lks just called him yell[A]ow,
Something always told me they were re[A7]ading Tommy wr[E]ong.
H[A]e was only ten years old when his dad[D]dy died in pri[A]son;
I took care of Tommy, 'cause he was my brother's s[E]on.
I st[A]ill recall the final words my br[D]other said to Tom[A]my,
"Son my life is over, but you[E]rs has just begun".
(Chorus)
"Pr[A]omise me, son, not to [D]do the things I've d[A]one
W[D]alk away from tr[A]ouble if you c[E]an.
It[A] won't mean you're weak if you t[D]urn the other ch[A]eek
[A]I hope you're old eno[D]ugh to underst[E]and,
[E7]Son, you don't have to fight to be a m[A]an."
Th[B]ere's someone for everyone, and To[E]mmy's love was Bec[B]ky.
In her arms he didn't have to prove he was a [F#]man.
O[B]ne day while he was working, the Ga[E]tlin boys came call[B]ing
They took turns at Becky, ([F#]n'there was three of t[B]hem).
T[B]ommy opened up the door, and s[E]aw Becky cryi[B]ng.
The torn dress, the shattered look was more than he could s[F#]tand.
H[B]e reached above the fireplace, and took d[E]own his daddy's pic[B]ture.
As the tears fell on his daddy's face, he h[F#7]eard these words agai[B]n:
(Chorus)
"Pr[B]omise me, son, not to [E]do the things I've d[B]one
W[E]alk away from tr[B]ouble if you c[F#]an.
It[B] won't mean you're weak if you t[E]urn the other ch[B]eek
[B]I hope you're old eno[E]ugh to underst[F#]and,
[F#7]Son, you don't have to fight to be a ma[B]n."
T[C]he Gatlin boys just laughed at him when he wa[F]lked into the barr[C]oom;
One of them got up and met him half way cross the f[G]loor.
When[C] Tommy turned around they said, "He[F]y look! old yeller's leav[C]ing,"
But you could've heard a pin drop when Tommy st[G]opped and locked the d[C]oor.
T[C]wenty years of crawling were bot[F]tled up inside h[C]im.
He wasn't holding nothing back -- he let 'em have it[G] all.
Wh[C]en Tommy left the bar room, not a [F]Gatlin boy was stand[C]ing.
He said, "This one's for Becky, as he [G7]watched the last one [C]fall. (And I heard him say,)
"[C]I promised you, Dad, not to [F]do the things you've d[C]one
[F]I walk away from tr[C]ouble when I [G]can
N[C]ow please don't think I'm weak, I didn't t[F]urn the other ch[C]eek,
A[C]nd papa, I should h[F]ope you unders[G]tand
S[G7]ometimes you gotta fight when you're a m[C]an".
Everyone considered him the [F]coward of the count[C]y.
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