CowardOfTheCountyKennyRogers Everyoneconsideredhimthecowardofthecounty Hedneverstoodonesingletimetoprovethecountywrong HismamanamedhimTommy,butfolksjustcalledhimYellow Somethingalwaystoldme,theywerereadingTommywrong Hewasonlytenyearsoldwhenhisdaddydiedinprison IlookedafterTommy,causehewasmybrothersson IstillrecallthefinalwordsmybrothersaidtoTommy Son,mylifeisover,butyourshasjustbegun Promiseme,son,nottodothethingsIvedone Walkawayfromtroubleifyoucan Itwontmeanyoureweakifyouturntheothercheek Ihopeyoureoldenoughtounderstand Son,youdonthavetofighttobeaman TheressomeoneforeveryoneandTommyslovewasBecky Inherarms,hedidnthavetoprovehewasaman Onedaywhilehewasworking,theGatlinboyscamecalling TheytookturnsatBeckyantherewasthreeofthem TommyopenedupthedoorandsawhisBeckycrying Thetorndress,theshatteredlookwasmorethanhecouldstand Hereachedabovethefireplaceandtookdownhisdaddyspicture Ashistearsfellonhisdaddysface,heheardthesewordsagain Promiseme,Son,nottodothethingsIvedone Walkawayfromtroubleifyoucan Itwontmeanyoureweakifyouturntheothercheek Ihopeyoureoldenoughtounderstand Son,youdonthavetofighttobeaman TheGatlinboysjustlaughedathimwhenhewalkedintothebarroom Oneofthemgotupandmethimhalfwaycrossthefloor WhenTommyturnedaroundtheysaid,Heylook!OldYellowsleaving Butyoucouldveheardapindrop WhenTommystoppedandlockedthedoor Twentyyearsofcrawlingwerebottledupinsidehim Hewasntholdingnothingback,heletemhaveitall WhenTommyleftthebarroom,notaGatlinboywasstanding Hesaid,ThisonesforBecky,ashewatchedthelastonefall AnIheardhimsay Ipromisedyou,Dad,nottodothethingsyouvedone IwalkawayfromtroublewhenIcan NowpleasedontthinkImweak,Ididntturntheothercheek AndPapa,Ishouldhopeyouunderstand Sometimesyougottafightwhenyoureaman Everyoneconsideredhimthecowardofthecounty