Coward of the County — Kenny Rogers
Chords and lyrics for Coward of the County by Kenny Rogers (key of A).
Verse 1
[A]Everyone considered him the [D]coward of the [A]county.
He'd never stood one single time to prove the [E]county wrong.
[A]His mama named him Tommy, the folks just called him [D]yellow,
but something always told me they were reading Tommy [E]wrong.
Verse 2
[A]He was only ten years old when his daddy died in [D]prison.
[A]I looked after Tommy 'cause he was my brother's [E]son.
[A]I still recall the final words my brother said to [D]Tommy:
[A]"Son, my life is over, but yours is just [E]begun.
Chorus
[A]Promise me, son, not to do the things I've [D]done.
[D]Walk away from trouble if you [A]can.
[E]It won't mean you're weak if you turn the other [A]cheek.
[D]I hope you're old enough to [E]understand:
[E7]Son, you don't have to fight to be a [A]man."
Verse 3
[A]There's someone for ev'ryone and Tommy's love was [D]Becky.
[A]In her arms he didn't have to prove he was a [E]man.
[A]One day while he was workin' the Gatlin boys came [D]callin'.
[A]They took turns at Becky.... [E]There was three of them!
Verse 4
[A]Tommy opened up the door and saw his Becky [D]cryin'.
[A]The torn dress, the shattered look was more than he could [E]stand.
[A]He reached above the fireplace and took down his daddy's [D]picture.
[A]As his tears fell on his daddy's face, he heard these words [E]again:
Chorus
[A]"Promise me, son, not to do the things I've [D]done.
[D]Walk away from trouble if you [A]can.
[E]It won't mean you're weak if you turn the other [A]cheek.
[D]I hope you're old enough to [E]understand:
[E7]Son, you don't have to fight to be a [A]man."
Verse 5
[A]The Gatlin boys just laughed at him when he walked into the [D]barroom.
[A]One of them got up and met him halfway 'cross the [E]floor.
[A]When Tommy turned around they said, "Hey look! ol' yellow's [D]leavin'".
[A]But you coulda heard a pin drop when Tommy stopped and blocked the [E]door.
Verse 6
[A]Twenty years of crawlin' was bottled up inside [D]him.
[A]He wasn't holdin' nothin' back; he let 'em have it [E]all.
[A]When Tommy left the barroom not a Gatlin boy was [D]standin'.
[A]He said, "This one's for Becky," as he watched the last one [E]fall.
Chorus
[A]"I promised you, Dad, not to do the things you [D]done.
[D]I walk away from trouble when I [A]can.
[E]Now please don't think I'm weak, I didn't turn the other [A]cheek,
[D]and Papa, I sure hope you [E]understand:
[E7]Sometimes you gotta fight when you're a [A]man."
Outro
[A]Everyone considered him the [D]coward of the [A]county.