Coward of the County [C] 4/4 is a song written by Roger Bowling and Ed Wheeler and recorded by American country singer Kenny Rogers. The song was released in 1979. Coward of the County - 1979 Intro : C C [C] Everyone considered him the [F] Coward of the [C] County He’d never stood one single time to prove the County [G] wrong His [C] mamma named him Tommy, the [F] folks just called him [C] yellow Something always told me they were [G7] reading Tommy [C] wrong. [C] He was only ten years old, when his [F] daddy died in [C] prison, I looked after Tommy ‘cause he was my brother’s [G] son, I [C] still recall the final words my [F] brother said to [C] Tommy, Son, my life is over, but [G7] yours is just [C] begun. Chorus [C] Promise me, son, not to [F] do the things I’ve [C] done, [F] Walk away from [C] trouble if you [G] can, [C] It won’t mean your weak if you [F] turn the other [C] cheek, I hope your old [F] enough to under[G]stand Son, you don’t have to fight to be a [C] man. [C] There’s someone for everyone [F] andTommy’s love was [C] Becky In her arms he didn’t have to prove he was a [G] man, One [C] day while he was working the [F] Gatlin boy’s came [C] calling, They took turns at Becky, there were [C] three of them. [C] Tommy opened up the door and [F] saw his Becky [C] crying The torn dress, the shattered look was more than he could [G] stand He [C] reached above the fireplace and took [F] down his daddy’s [C] picture As his tears fell on his Daddy’s face, he [G7] herd these words [C] again. Chorus [C] Promise me, son, not to [F] do the things I’ve [C] done, [F] Walk away from [C] trouble if you [G] can, [C] It won’t mean your weak if you [F] turn the other [C] cheek, I hope your old [F] enough to under[G]stand Son, you don’t have to fight to be a [C] man. [C] The Gatlin boy’s just laughed at him, when he [F] walked into the [C] bar room, One of them got up, and met him half way cross the [G] floor, When [C] Tommy turned around they said ‘Hey [F] look old yellow’s [C] leavin’ But you could have heard a pin drop when Tommy stopped and locked the [C] door. [C] Twenty year’s of crawling was [F] bottled up inside [C] him, He wasn’t holding nothing back he let them have it [G] all When [C] Tommy left the bar room, not a [F] Gatlin boy was [C] standing He said this ones for Becky as he [G7] watched the last one [C] fall. Chorus [C] I promised you, dad, not to [F] do the things you’ve [C] done I walk away from trouble when I [G] can Now [C] please don’t think I’m weak, I [F] didn’t turn the other [C] cheek, ‘Cause papa, I sure hope you under[G]stand Sometimes you gotta fight when your a[C] man [C] Everyone considered him the [F] Coward of the [C] County. <C> Coward of the County 1/1 14th Jan, 2021 .