Coward of the county

G C G
Everyone considered him the coward of the county
D7
He'd never stood one single time to proof the county wrong
G C G
His mamma named him Tommy, but folks just called him Yellow
D7 G
For something always told me they were reading Tommy wrong
C G
He was only ten years old when his daddy died in prison
D7
I looked after Tommy 'cause he was my brother’s son
G C G
I still recall the final words my brother said to Tommy
D7 G
Son my life is over, yours has just begun
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C G
Promise me son, not to do the things I've done
D7
Walk away from trouble if you can
G C G
It won't mean you're week if you turn the other cheek
D7
I hope you're old enough to understand
G
Son, you don't have to fight to be a man
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ab C# Ab
There's someone for everyone and Tommy's love was Becky
Eb7
In her arms he didn't have to proof he was a man
Ab C# Ab
One day that he was working the Catlin’ boys came calling
Eb7 Ab
And they took terms of Becky; there were three of them
C# Ab
Tommy opened up his door and saw his Becky crying
Eb7
The torn dress, the chattered look was more than he could stand
Ab C# Ab
He reached above the fireplace and took down his daddy's picture
Eb7 Ab
As tears fell on his daddies face he heard these words again
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C# Ab
Promise me son not to do the things I've done
Eb7
Walk away from trouble if you can
Ab C# Ab
It won't mean you're weak if you turn the other cheek
Eb7
I hope you're old enough to understand
Ab
Son, you don't have to fight to be a man
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A D A
The Catlin' boys just laughed at him when he walked into the barroom
E7
One of them got up and met him halfway cross the floor
A D A
When Tommy turned around he said "Hey look old Yellow's leaving"
E7 A
But you could have heard a pin drop when Tommy stopped and locked the door
D A
Twenty years of crawling barrelled up inside him
E7
He wouldn't hold them nothing back, he let them have it all
A D A
When Tommy left the barroom not a Catlin' boy was standing
E7 A (stop)
He said, "This one is for Becky", when the last one's on the floor
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And I heard him say:
A D A
I promised you dad not to do the things you've done
E7
I walk away from trouble when I can
A D A
Now, please don't think I'm weak, I didn't turned the other cheek
E7
And papa I sure hope you'll understand
A (stop)
Sometimes you got to fight to be a man
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A D A
Everyone considered him the coward of the county


Coward of the county (b-version)
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
G C G
Everyone considered him the coward of the county
D7
He'd never stood one single time to proof the county wrong
G C G
His mamma named him Tommy, but folks just called him Yellow
D7 G
For something always told me they were reading Tommy wrong
C G
He was only ten years old when his daddy died in prison
D7
I looked after Tommy 'cause he was my brother’s son
G C G
I still recall the final words my brother said to Tommy
D7 G
Son, my life is over, yours has just begun
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C G
Promise me son, not to do the things I've done
D7
Walk away from trouble if you can
G C G
It won't mean you're week if you turn the other cheek
D7
I hope you're old enough to understand
G
Son, you don't have to fight to be a man
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G C G
There's someone for everyone and Tommy's love was Becky
D7
In her arms he didn't have to proof he was a man
G C G
One day while he was working the Catlin' boys came calling
D7 G
And they took terms of Becky; there were three of them
C G
Tommy opened up his door and saw his Becky crying
D7
The torn dress, the chattered look was more than he could stand
G C G
He reached above the fireplace and took down his daddy's picture
D7 G
As tears fell on his daddies face he heard these words again
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C G
Promise me son not to do the things I've done
D7
Walk away from trouble if you can
G C G
It won't mean you're weak if you turn the other cheek
D7
I hope you're old enough to understand
G
Son, you don't have to fight to be a man
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A D A
The Catlin' boys just laughed at him when he walked into the barroom
E7
One of them got up and met him halfway 'cross the floor
A D A
When Tommy turned around he said "Hey look old Yellow's leaving"
E7 A
But you could have heard a pin drop when Tommy stopped and locked the door
D A
Twenty years of crawling barrelled up inside him
E7
He wouldn't hold them nothing back, he let them have it all
A D A
When Tommy left the barroom not a Catlin' boy was standing
E7 A (stop)
He said, "This one is for Becky", when the last one's on the floor
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And I heard him say:
A D A
I promised you dad not to do the things you've done
E7
I walk away from trouble when I can
A D A
Now, please don't think I'm weak, I didn't turned the other cheek
E7
And papa I sure hope you'll understand
A (stop)
Sometimes you got to fight to be a man
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A D A
Everyone considered him the coward of the county