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

Now it don't mean you're weak if you turn the other check

And 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 boy came calling

They took turns at Becky, and there was three of them

Tommy opened up the door, and saw his Becky cryin'

The torn dress, the shattered look was more than he could stand

He reached above the fireplace, and took down his daddy's picture

And his tears fell on his daddy's face, he head 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 check

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 bar room

One of them got up and met him half way cross the floor

When Tommy turned around they said, Hey look, old yellow's leavin'

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 nothing back, he let 'em have it all

When Tommy left the bar room, not a Gatlin boy was standin'

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 should hope you understand

Sometimes you gotta fight when you're a man

Everyone considered him the coward of the county