Coward Of The County
[00:00.42] ♫ ♪
[00:07.34] Everyone considered him
[00:13.18] The coward of the county
[00:15.85] He'd never stood
[00:18.50] One single time
[00:19.82] To prove the county wrong
[00:22.48] His mama named him Tommy
[00:25.93] But folks just called him Yellow
[00:29.91] But something always told me
[00:33.11] They were reading Tommy wrong
[00:36.30] He was only ten years old
[00:39.75] When his daddy died in prison
[00:42.68] I looked after Tommy
[00:46.12] 'Cause he was my brother's son
[00:49.31] I still recall the final words
[00:53.31] My brother said to Tommy
[00:55.95] "Son, my life is over
[00:59.41] But yours has just begun"
[01:02.86] "Promise me, son
[01:06.04] Not to do the things I've done
[01:08.97] Walk away from trouble if you can
[01:13.22] Now it won't mean you're weak
[01:16.69] If you turn the other cheek
[01:19.60] I hope you're old enough
[01:21.72] To understand
[01:24.63] Son, you don't have to fight
[01:27.30] To be a man"
[01:29.69] There's someone for everyone
[01:33.14] And Tommy's love was Becky
[01:35.80] In her arms
[01:38.45] He didn't have to prove
[01:40.31] He was a man
[01:42.44] One day while he was working
[01:45.89] The Gatlin boys came calling
[01:49.07] They took turns at Becky
[01:52.26] An' there was three of them
[01:55.19] Tommy opened up the door
[01:59.18] And saw his Becky crying
[02:02.35] The torn dress
[02:04.75] The shattered look
[02:05.80] Was more than he could stand
[02:09.00] He reached above the fireplace
[02:12.45] And took down his daddy's picture
[02:15.37] As his tears fell
[02:17.78] On his daddy's face
[02:19.09] He heard these words again
[02:21.75] "Promise me, Son
[02:24.95] Not to do the things I've done
[02:28.14] Walk away from trouble if you can
[02:32.39] Now it won't mean you're weak
[02:35.84] If you turn the other cheek
[02:38.50] I hope you're old enough
[02:40.89] To understand
[02:43.01] Son, you don't have to fight
[02:46.38] To be a man"
[02:48.24] The Gatlin boys just laughed at him
[02:52.23] When he walked into the bar room
[02:54.89] One of them got up and met him
[02:59.06] Half way cross the floor
[03:01.19] When Tommy turned around they said
[03:05.35] ,"Hey look! Old Yellow's leaving"
[03:08.00] But you could've heard a pin drop
[03:11.71] When Tommy stopped and locked the door
[03:14.63] Twenty years of crawling
[03:18.35] Was bottled up inside him
[03:21.56] He wasn't holding nothing back
[03:25.00] He let 'em have it all
[03:27.66] When Tommy left the bar room
[03:31.11] Not a Gatlin boy was standing
[03:34.02] He said, "This one's for Becky"
[03:37.75] As he watched the last one fall
[03:40.67] And I heard him say
[03:42.25] "I promised you, Dad
[03:44.12] Not to do the things you've done
[03:47.04] I walk away from trouble when I can
[03:51.03] Now please don't think I'm weak
[03:54.74] I didn't turn the other cheek
[03:57.40] And Papa
[03:58.73] I should hope you understand
[04:02.18] Sometimes you gotta fight
[04:05.10] When you're a man"
[04:07.77] Everyone considered him
[04:10.94] The coward of the county
[04:15.73] ♪
