recorded by: Kenny Rogers)



Everyone considered him the coward of the county

He'd never stood one single time to prove the county wrong

His mama named him Tommy, but folks just called him yellow

Something always told me they were reading Tommy wrong.



He was only ten years old when his daddy died in prison

I looked after Tommy, 'cause he was my brother's son

I still recall the final words my brother said to Tommy

"Son my life is over, but yours has just begun".



CHORUS:

"Promise me son not to do the things I've done

Walk away from trouble if you can

It won't mean you're weak if you turn the other cheek

I hope you're old enough to understand

Son, you don't have to fight to be a man".



There's someone for everyone, and Tommy's love was Becky

In her arms he didn't have to prove he was a man

One day while he was working, the Gatlin boys came calling

They took turns at Becky (there was three of them).



Tommy opened up the door, and saw Becky crying

The torn dress, the shattered look was more than he could stand

He reached above the fireplace, and took down his daddy's picture

As his tears fell on his daddy's face, he heard this words again.



REPEAT CHORUS



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

When Tommy turned around they said "Hey look old yellow's leaving"

But you could've heard a pin drop when Tommy stopped and locked the door.



Twenty years of crawling were bottled up inside him

He would hold nothing back --he let'em have it all

When Tommy left the bar room, not a Gatlin boy was standing

He said this ones for Becky, as he watched the last one fall

(now hear him say)



"I promised you dad not to do the things you've done

I walk away from trouble when I can

Now please don't think I'm weak I didn't turn the other cheek

And papa I should hope you understand

Sometimes you gotta fight when you're a man".



Everyone considered him the coward of the county