Old Song Lyrics: oldies, 80s, 90s, Videos

Album: Kenny
Genre: country
Writers: Roger Bowling, Billy Ed Wheeler
Released: 1980
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This song and You Decorated my Life were the most popular singles from the self-titled album by Kenny Rogers which was released in 1979. The song reached the peak position at number one in U.S., Canada and U.K.. Currently he is on his 2009 tour. His tour dates will go until December. Some of the next performings are: Walker, MN (June, 18th), Mableton, GA (June 20th), Sikeston, MO (June 24th), Richland Center, Wi (June 25th), New Bedford, MA (23rd July) and Clarkston, MI (July 29th).

Everyone considered him the coward of the county
Hed never stood one single time
To prove the county wrong
His mama named him tommy,
The folks just called him yellow,
But 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 brothers son
I still recall the final words
My brother said to tommy:
Son, my life is over, but yours is just begun

Promise me, son, not to do the things I’ve done
Walk away from trouble if you can
It wont mean youre weak if you turn the other cheek
I hope youre old enough to understand:
Son, you dont have to fight to be a man

Theres someone for evreyone
And tommys love was becky
In her arms he didnt have to prove he was a man
One day while he was workin
The gatlin boys came callin
They took turns at becky….
There was three of them!

Tommy opened up the door and saw his becky cryin
The torn dress, the shattered look was more than
He could stand
He reached above the fireplace
And took down his daddys picture
As his tears fell on his daddys face
He heard these words again:

Promise me, son, not to do the things I’ve done
Walk away from trouble if you can
It won’t mean youre weak if you turn the other cheek
I hope youre old enough to understand:
Son, you don’t have to fight to be a man

The gatlin boys just laughed at him
When he walked into the barroom
One of them got up
And met him halfway cross the floor
When tommy turned around they said, hey look!
Ol yellows leavin
But you coulda heard a pin drop when tommy stopped And blocked the door

Twenty years of crawlin was bottled up inside him
He wasnt holdin nothin back; he let em have it all
When tommy left the barroom not a gatlin
Boy was standin
He said, this ones for becky
As he watched the last one fall
And I heard him say

I promised you, dad, not to do the things you 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 sure hope you understand:
Sometimes you gotta fight when youre a man.

Everyone considered him the coward of the county