Kenny Rogers - Coward of the County
This is one of very few songs where I change lyrics to minimize awkwardness.
Originally starts in C, then changes to C#, then to D,
I play in A capo 4 and skip the key changes.
Intro
A
AEveryone considered him the Dcoward of the Acounty
He’d nAever stood one single time to prove the county Ewrong
His Amama named him Tommy, the Dfolks just called him Ayellow
But Asomething always told me they were Ereading Tommy Awrong
AHe was only ten years old when his Ddaddy died in Aprison
AI looked after Tommy ‘cause he was my brother’s Eson
I Astill recall the final words my Dbrother said to ATommy
ASon, my life is over, but Eyours has just Abegun
APromise me, son, not to Ddo the things I’ve Adone
DWalk away from Atrouble if you Ecan
AIt won’t mean you’re weak if you Dturn the other Acheek
I hAope you’re old Denough to underEstand
Son, Eyou don’t have to fight to be a Aman
Original changes key up a half-step here
There’s sAomeone for everyone and DTommy’s love was ABecky
AIn her arms he didn’t have to prove he was a Eman
One Aday while he was workin’ the DGatlin boys came Acallin’
AThey called Becky trashy, Etold her she should Arun
ATommy opened up the door and Dsaw his Becky Acryin’
The cAryin’ eyes, the shattered look was more than he could Estand
He Areached above the fireplace and took Ddown his daddy’s Apicture
As his Atears fell on his daddy’s face, he Eheard these words Aagain
APromise me, son, not to Ddo the things I’ve Adone
DWalk away from Atrouble if you Ecan
Now Ait won’t mean you’re weak if you Dturn the other Acheek
I hAope you’re old Denough to underEstand
Son, Eyou don’t have to fight to be a Aman
Original changes key up another half-step here
The GAatlin boys just laughed at him when he Dwalked into the Abar-room
AOne of them got up and met him halfway ‘cross the Efloor
When ATommy turned around they said, hey Dlook ol’ yellow’s lAeavin’
Spoken
ABut you coulda heard a pin drop when ETommy stopped and blocked the dAoor
ATwenty years of crawlin’ was Dbottled up insAide him
He Awasn’t holdin’ nothin’ back, he let ‘em have it Eall
When ATommy left the bar-room not a DGatlin boy was Astandin’
He Asaid, this one’s for Becky, as he Ewatched the last one Afall
Spoken
And I heard him say
I pAromised you, Dad, not to Ddo the things you’ve Adone
DI walk away from Atrouble when I Ecan
Now Aplease don’t think I’m weak, I didn’t Dturn the other Acheek
And papa, I sure Dhope you underEstand
SomeEtimes you gotta fight when you’re a Aman
AEveryone considered him the Dcoward of the cAounty