Tom: C
C F
Everyone considered him the coward of the county
C G G
He never stood one single time to prove the county wrong
C F C
His mama named him Tommy, the folks just called him yellow
C G C
But someting always told me they were reading Tommy wrong
C F C
He was only ten years old when his daddy died in prison
C G G
I looked after Tommy cause he was my brother's son
C F C
I still recall the final words my brother said to Tommy
C G C
"Son my life is over but yours is just begun"
C F C
"Promise me, son, not to do the things I've done
C G
Walk away from trouble if you can
C F
It won't mean you're weak if you turn the other cheek
C G
I hope you're old enough to understand
G C
Son you don't have to fight to be a man"
D G D
There's someone for everyone and Tommy's love was Becky
A
In her arms he didn't have to prove he was a man
D G D
One day while he was working, the Gatlin boys came callin'
A D
They took turns at Becky, there was three of them
D G D
Tommy opened up the door and saw his Becky cryin'
A
The torn dress, the shattered look was more than he could stand
D G D
He reached above the fireplace and took down his daddy's picture
A D
As his tears fell on his daddy's face, he heard these words again
G D
"Promise me, son, not to do the things I've done
A
Walk away from trouble if you can
D G D
It won't mean you're weak if you turn the other cheek
A
I hope you're old enough to understand
D
Son you don't have to fight to be a man"
G D
The Gatlin Boys just laughed at him when he walked into the bar room
A
One of them got up and met him halfway 'cross the floor
D G D
When Tommy turned areound they said, Hey look ol' yellow's leavin'
A D
But you coulda heard a pin drop when Tommy stopped and blocked the door
G D
Twenty years of crawling was bottled up inside him
A
He wasn't holding nothin' back he let 'em have it all
D G D
When Tommy left the bar room not a Gatlin boy was standin'
A D
He said this one's for Becky," as he watched the last one fall
(And I heard him say)
G D
I promised you Dad not to do the things you done
A
I walk away from trouble when I can
D G D
Now please don't think I'm weak I didn't turn the other cheek
A
And Poppa, I sure hope you understand
D
Sometimes you gotta fight when you're a man
G D
Everyone considered him the coward of the county
