Coward of the County
[Verse 1]
Everyone considered him, the coward of the county
[?] stood one single time to prove the county wrong
His mamma named in Tommy but folks just called him yellow
Something always told me they were reading Tommy wrong
Now he was only 10 years old when his daddy died in prison
I looked after Tommy because he was my brother's son
I still recall the final words my brother said to Tommy
He said son my life is over but yours has just begun
[Chorus]
Promise me son not to do the things I've done
Walk away from trouble if you can
It won't mean you weak if you turn the other cheek
I hope rolled enough to understand it
Son you don't have to fight to be a man
[Verse 2]
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 [?] boys came calling
They took turns with Becky, there were three of them
Tommy opened up the door and saw his Becky crying
The torn dress the shattered lip was more than he could stand
He reached above the fire place to [?] picture
As tears fell on his daddy face he heard these words again
[Chorus]
Promise me son not to do the things I've done
Walk away from trouble if you can
It won't mean you weak if you turn the other cheek
I hope rolled enough to understand it
Son you don't have to fight to be a man
[Verse 3]
The [?] boys just laughed at him as he walked into the bar room
One of them got up and hit him half way across the floor
When Tommy turned around they said hey look ole Yellow is leaving
But you could hear a pin drop when Tommy stopped and locked the door
20 years of crawling was bottled up inside him
He wasn't holding nothing back, he let them have it all
When Tommy left bar room not a [?] boy was standing
He said: 'This one's for Becky as he let's the last one fall'
[Chorus]
I promise to 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
But sometimes you gotta fight when you're a man
Everyone considered him, the coward of the county