Tuning: G C E A

Capo 3rd Fret (In a moderate country half-time)

^AEv'ryone considered him the ^Dcoward of the ^Acounty. He'd never stood one single time to prove the county ^Ewrong. His ^Amama named him Tommy, the ^Dfolks just called him ^Ayellow, but something always told me they were ^Ereading Tommy ^Awrong.

^AHe was only ten years old when his ^Ddaddy died in ^Aprison. I looked after Tommy 'cause he was my brother's ^Eson. I ^Astill recall the final words my ^Dbrother said to ^ATommy: "Son, my life is over, but ^Eyours is just ^Abegun.

^APromise me, son, not to ^Edo the things I've ^Adone. ^DWalk away from ^Atrouble if you ^Ecan. ^AIt won't mean you're weak if you ^Dturn the other ^Acheek. I hope you're old ^Denough to under^Estand: Son, ^E7you don't have to fight to be a ^Aman."

[Slide capo to 4th fret]

^AThere's someone for ev'ryone and ^DTommy's love was ^ABecky. In her arms he didn't have to prove he was a ^Eman. One ^Aday while he was workin' the ^DGatlin boys came ^Acallin'. E [Spoken] A They took turns at Becky.... There was three of them!

^ATommy opened up the door and ^Dsaw his Becky ^Acryin'. The torn dress, the shattered look was more than he could ^Estand. He ^Areached above the fireplace and took ^Ddown his daddy's ^Apicture. As his tears fell on his daddy's face, he ^Eheard these words ^Aagain:

^A"Promise me, son, not to^E do the things I've^A done. ^DWalk away from ^Atrouble if you ^Ecan. ^AIt won't mean you're weak if you ^Dturn the other ^Acheek. I hope you're old ^Denough to under^Estand: Son, ^E7you don't have to fight to be a ^Aman."

[Slide capo to 5th fret]

^AThe Gatlin boys just laughed at him when he ^Dwalked into the ^Abarroom. One of them got up and met him halfway 'cross the ^Efloor. When ^ATommy turned around they said, "Hey ^Dlook! ol' yellow's ^Aleavin'." [Whole line spoken] E A But you coulda heard a pin drop when Tommy stopped and blocked the door.

^ATwenty years of crawlin' was ^Dbottled up ins^Aide him. He wasn't holdin' nothin' back; he let 'em have it ^Eall. When ^ATommy left the barroom not a ^DGatlin boy was ^Astandin'. He said, "This one's for Becky," as he ^Ewatched the last one ^Afall. [Spoken] And I heard him say,

^A"I promised you, Dad, not to ^Ddo the things you ^Adone. I walk away from trouble when I ^Ecan. Now ^Aplease don't think I'm weak, I didn't ^Dturn the other ^Acheek, and Papa, I sure ^Dhope you under^Estand: Some^E7times you gotta fight when you're a ^Aman."

A D [No chords] A Ev'ryone considered him the coward of the county. ------------------------------------------------------- COWARD OF THE COUNTY |C | |F |C | Ev'ry one con-sidered him the coward of the county | | | |G | He never stood one single time to prove the county wrong |C | |F |C | His momma named him Tommy the folks just called him yellow | | | G7 |C | Something always told me they were readin' Tommy wrong | | |F |C | He was only ten years old when his daddy died in prison | | | |G | I looked after Tommy 'cos he was my brothers son |C | |F |C | I still recall the final words my brother said to Tommy | | | G7 |C | Son my life is over but yours has just beg-un |C | G7 C |F |C | Promise me son not to do the things I've done |F |C |G | walk away from trouble if you can |C | G7 C |F |C Now it won't mean your weak if you turn the other cheek |F |G I hope your old enough to under-stand |Dm7 |G7 |C | you don't have to fight to be a man |D | |G |D There's someone for every one and Tommys love was Becky | | | |A | In her arms he didn't have to prove he was a man |D | |G |D | One day while he was workin' the Gatlin boys came callin' | | | |A7 |D They took turns at Becky There was three of them | | |G |D | Tommy open up the door and saw his Becky cryin' | | | |A | The torn dress the shattered look was more than he could stand |D | |G |D | He reached above the fire place and took down his daddys picture | | | A |D as the tears fell on his Daddys face he heard these words a-gain | | A D |G | Promise me son not to do the things I've done | |D | walk away from trouble if you can | | A D |G | Now it don't mean your weak if you turn the other cheek |D |G |A | I hope your old en-ough to understand | | A7 |D Son you don't have to fight to be a man |D | |C |D 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 |D | |G |D | when Tommy turned around they said Hey look ol' Yellows leaving | A7 But you could-a heard a pin drop when Tommy stopped and blocked the door |D | |G |D | Twenty years of crawlin' was bottled up in-side him | | | |A | he wasn't holdin' nothin' back he let 'em have it all |D | |G |D | when Tommy left the Bar room not a Gatlin boy was standin' | |A7 He said this one's for Becky as he watched the last one fall And I heard him say. |D | A7 D |G |D I promised you Dad not to do the things you done |G |D |A7 I walk away from trouble when I can |D | A7 D |G |D | now please don't think I'm weak I did-n't turn the other cheek | |G |A |A7 | and Popa I sure hope you understand some-times you've gotta fight |D | when your a man | | |G |D Every one considered him the coward of the county

Kenny Rogers - Coward of the county