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Everyone considered him |
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The coward of the county |
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He'd never stood one single time |
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To prove the county wrong |
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His mama named him Tommy |
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But folks just called him yellow |
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Something always told me |
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They were reading Tommy wrong |
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He was only ten years old |
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When his daddy died in prison |
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I looked after Tommy |
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'Cause he was my brother's son |
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I still recall the final words |
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My brother said to Tommy |
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Son my life is over |
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But yours has just begun |
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Promise me, son |
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Not to do the things I've done |
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Walk away from trouble if you can |
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Now it don't mean you're weak |
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If you turn the other cheek |
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And I hope you're old enough to understand |
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Son, you don't have to fight to be a man |
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There's someone for everyone |
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And Tommy's love was Becky |
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In her arms he didn't have |
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To prove he was a man |
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One day while he was working |
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The Gatlin boys came calling |
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They took turns at Becky |
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N'there was three of them |
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Tommy opened up the door |
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And saw Becky crying |
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The torn dress, the shattered look |
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Was more than he could stand |
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He reached above the fireplace |
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Took down his daddy's picture |
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As his tears fell on his daddy's face |
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I heard these words again |
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Promise me, son |
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Not to do the things I've done |
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Walk away from trouble if you can |
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Now it don't mean you're weak |
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If you turn the other cheek |
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And I hope you're old enough to understand |
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Son, you don't have to fight to be a man |
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The Gatlin boys just laughed at him |
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When he walked into the barroom |
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One of them got up |
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And met him half way cross the floor |
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Tommy turned around they said |
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Hey look, old yeller's leavin' |
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You could've heard a pin drop |
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When Tommy stopped and locked the door |
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Twenty years of crawling |
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Was bottled up inside him |
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He wasn't holding nothing back |
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He let 'em have it all |
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Tommy left the bar room |
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Not a Gatlin boy was standing |
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He said, This one's for Becky |
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As he watched the last one fall |
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N' I heard him say |
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I promised you, Dad |
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Not to do the things you've done |
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I walk away from trouble when I can |
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Now please don't think I'm weak |
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I didn't turn the other cheek |
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Papa, I should hope you understand |
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Sometimes you gotta fight |
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When you're a man |
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Everyone considered him |
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The coward of the county |
