Coward of the county

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Ev'ry one con-sidered him the coward of the county
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He never stood one single time to prove the county wrong
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His momma named him Tommy the folks just called him yellow
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Something always told me they were readin' Tommy wrong

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He was only ten years old when his daddy died in prison
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I looked after Tommy 'cos he was my brothers son
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I still recall the final words my brother said to Tommy
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Son my life is over but yours has just beg-un

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Promise me son 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 won't mean your weak if you turn the other cheek
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I hope your old enough to under-stand
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you don't have to fight to be a man

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There's someone for every one and Tommys love was Becky
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In her arms he didn't have to prove he was a man
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One day while he was workin' the Gatlin boys came callin'
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They took turns at Becky There was three of them

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Tommy open up the door and saw his Becky cryin'
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The torn dress the shattered look was more than he could stand
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He reached above the fire place and took down his daddys picture
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as the tears fell on his Daddys face he heard these words a-gain

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Promise me son 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 your weak if you turn the other cheek
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I hope your old en-ough 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 when he walked into the bar room
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one of them got up and met him half way 'cross the floor
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when Tommy turned around they said Hey look ol' Yellows leaving
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But you could-a heard a pin drop when Tommy stopped and blocked the
door
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Twenty years of crawlin' was bottled up in-side him
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he wasn't holdin' nothin' back he let 'em have it all
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when Tommy left the Bar room not a Gatlin boy was standin'
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He said this one's for Becky as he watched the last one fall
And I heard him say.
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I promised you Dad not to do the things you 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 I did-n't turn the other cheek
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and Popa I sure hope you understand some-times you've gotta fight
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when your a man
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Every one considered him the coward of the county