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 called him Tommy, but folks just called him yellow Somethin' always told me they were readin' Tommy wrong He was only 10 years old when his daddy died in prison I took care of 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 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 workin' the Gatlin boys came callin' 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 As his 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 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 yella's leavin' (But you could have heard a pin drop when Tommy stopped and locked the door) 20 years of crawlin' was bottled up inside him He wasn't holdin' nothin' back, he let them have it all When Tommy left the barroom, not a Garlin boy was standin' He said, this one's for Becky as he watched the last one fall (Now 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