Coward of the Country

Everyone considered him the coward of the county

  • Everyone considered him the coward of the county
  • He'd never stood one single time to prove the county wrong
  • His mama named him Tommy
  • But folks just called him yellow
  • 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 brother's son
  • I still recall the final
  • Words my brother said to Tommy
  • Son my life is over
  • But yours has just begun
  • Promise me son not to do the things
  • I've done
  • Walk away from trouble if you can
  • It won'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
  • And 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
  • And his
  • Promise me son not to do the things
  • I've done
  • Walk away from trouble if you can
  • Now it won'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
  • When Tommy turned around they said
  • Hey look old yeller's leaving
  • But you could've heard a pin drop
  • When Tommy stopped and locked the door
  • Twenty years of crawling was bottled up
  • Inside him
  • He wasn't holding nothin' back
  • He let 'em have it all
  • When Tommy left the barroom
  • Not a Gatlin boy was standing
  • He said this one's 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 walk away from trouble when I can
  • Now please don't think I'm weak
  • I didn't turn the other cheek
  • And papa I sure hope you understand
  • Sometimes you gotta fight when you're a man
  • Everyone considered him the coward
  • Of the county
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