Coward of the County-Kenny Rogers

Everyone considered him "the Coward of the County."
He never stood one single time to prove the county wrong.
His mama named him Tommy, the folks just called him yellow,
But something always told me they were reading Tommy wrong.

He was only ten years old when his daddy died in prison.
I looked after Tommy cause he was my brothers son.
I still recall the final words my brother said to Tommy:

"Son, my life is over, but yours is just begun.

Promise me, son, not to do the things I've done.
Walk away from trouble if you can.
Now it don't mean you're weak if you turn the other cheek.
I hope you're old enough to understand
Son, you don't have to fight to be a man."

There's someone for everyone. Tommy's love was Becky.
In her arms he didn't have to prove he was a man.
One day while he was working the Gatlin boys came calling.
They took turns at Becky... there was three of them.

Tommy opened up the door and saw his Becky crying.
The torn dress, the shattered look was more than he could stand.
He reached above the fireplace and took down his daddy's picture.
As the tears fell on his daddy's face, He heard these words again

"Promise me, son, not to do the things I've done.
Walk away from trouble if you can.
Now it don't mean you're weak if you turn the other cheek.
I hope you're old enough to understand
Son, you don't have to fight to be a man."

The Gatlin boys just laughed at him, when he walked into the barroom.
One of them got up and met him halfway cross the floor.
Tommy turned around they said, "Hey look, old Yellow's leaving!"
You could heard a pin drop when tommy stopped and locked the door.

Twenty years of crawlin' was bottled up inside him.
He wasn't holdin' nothin' back, he let 'em have it all.
When tommy left the barroom not a Gatlin boy was standing.
He said, this ones for Becky, as he watched the last one fall.

Twenty years of crawlin' was bottled up inside him.
He wasn't holdin' nothin' back, he let 'em have it all.
When tommy left the barroom not a Gatlin boy was standin'.
He said, this ones for Becky, as he watched the last one fall.

And I heard him say,

"I promised you, dad, not to do the things you've done.
I'll walk away from trouble when I can.
Now please don't think I'm weak, I couldn't turn the other cheek,
Papa, I sure hope you understand:

Sometimes you gotta fight when you're a man".

Everyone considered him the Coward of the County.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Kenny Rogers
• Coward of the County

[wildcatuniquerose]

spelling!!!! If you're gonna do lyrics.. spell things right!! 'wrods??' tut tut

[ToonIke1]

@wildcatuniquerose If you don't like it, there's something called a Back Button on your web browser, different videos to the right of this video or alternatively Ctrl/Command+Q.

[Wellch]

Sometimes you got to fight when you're a man. (sorry, the word is not YOUR)  but thanks for sharing this with us

[hera16100]

this is my favorite song of Kenny Rogers...he is my first love and my forever love..



[MrAdjer]

for all my life, since I was six i've been singing the 'cabin boys came callin' - never knew it was gatlin - my life has been a sham!

[whisky321]

@debralizdasigao if ur defending others than your right not to turn the other cheek, as long as you dont hit a man when he's down or humiliate hm.

[debralizdasigao]

Thanks for uploading this version, this is the best, I've been looking for this version since last month...

[amelia34479]

This song really speaks to me, I kind of wish I could just turn the other cheek, but I can't, I always stand up for myself, and others. I fight more than I should, and I really wish I could stop, but I can't, I'm just to weak to turn the other cheek.