Kenny Rogers - Coward of the county

Eve^Aryone considered him the co^Dward of the coun^Aty He'd never stood one single time to prove the county wr^Eong. His ma^Ama named him Tommy, but fo^Dlks just called him yell^Aow, Something always told me they were re^A7ading Tommy wr^Eong.

H^Ae was only ten years old when his dad^Ddy died in pri^Ason; I took care of Tommy, 'cause he was my brother's s^Eon. I st^Aill recall the final words my br^Dother said to Tom^Amy, "Son my life is over, but you^Ers has just begun".

"Pr^Aomise me, son, not to ^Ddo the things I've d^Aone W^Dalk away from tr^Aouble if you c^Ean. It^A won't mean you're weak if you t^Durn the other ch^Aeek ^AI hope you're old eno^Dugh to underst^Eand, ^E7Son, you don't have to fight to be a m^Aan."

Th^Bere's someone for everyone, and To^Emmy's love was Bec^Bky. In her arms he didn't have to prove he was a ^F#man. O^Bne day while he was working, the Ga^Etlin boys came call^Bing They took turns at Becky, (^F#n'there was three of t^Bhem).

T^Bommy opened up the door, and s^Eaw Becky cryi^Bng. The torn dress, the shattered look was more than he could s^F#tand. H^Be reached above the fireplace, and took d^Eown his daddy's pic^Bture. As the tears fell on his daddy's face, he h^F#7eard these words agai^Bn:

"Pr^Bomise me, son, not to ^Edo the things I've d^Bone W^Ealk away from tr^Bouble if you c^F#an. It^B won't mean you're weak if you t^Eurn the other ch^Beek ^BI hope you're old eno^Eugh to underst^F#and, ^F#7Son, you don't have to fight to be a ma^Bn."

T^Che Gatlin boys just laughed at him when he wa^Flked into the barr^Coom; One of them got up and met him half way cross the f^Gloor. When^C Tommy turned around they said, "He^Fy look! old yeller's leav^Cing," But you could've heard a pin drop when Tommy st^Gopped and locked the d^Coor.

T^Cwenty years of crawling were bot^Ftled up inside h^Cim. He wasn't holding nothing back -- he let 'em have it^G all. Wh^Cen Tommy left the bar room, not a ^FGatlin boy was stand^Cing. He said, "This one's for Becky, as he ^G7watched the last one ^Cfall. (And I heard him say,)

"^CI promised you, Dad, not to ^Fdo the things you've d^Cone ^FI walk away from tr^Couble when I ^Gcan N^Cow please don't think I'm weak, I didn't t^Furn the other ch^Ceek, A^Cnd papa, I should h^Fope you unders^Gtand S^G7ometimes you gotta fight when you're a m^Can".

Everyone considered him the ^Fcoward of the count^Cy.