Artist: | Kenny Rogers (English) |
User: | Frenzel Art Organo Tolito |
Duration: | 130 seconds |
Delay: | 12 seconds |
Chord names: | Not defined |
Abusive: | |
Comment: | - |
Intro: C
[Verse 1]
C F C
Everyone considered him the coward of the county
G
He'd never stood one single time to prove the county wrong.
C F C
His mama named him Tommy, but folks just called him yellow,
G C
Something always told me they were reading Tommy wrong.
C F C
He was only ten years old when his daddy died in prison;
G
I took care of Tommy, 'cause he was my brother's son.
C F C
I still recall the final words my brother said to Tommy,
G
"Son my life is over, but yours has just begun".
[Chorus]
C F C
"Promise me, son, not to do the things I've done
F C G
Walk away from trouble if you can.
C F C
It won't mean you're weak if you turn the other cheek
C F G
I hope you're old enough to understand,
G7 C
Son, you don't have to fight to be a man."
[Verse 2]
C# F# C#
There's someone for everyone, and Tommy's love was Becky.
G#
In her arms he didn't have to prove he was a man.
C# G# C#
One day while he was working, the Gatlin boys came calling
G# C#
They took turns at Becky, (n' there was three of them).
C# F# C#
Tommy opened up the door, and saw Becky crying.
G#
The torn dress, the shattered look was more than he could stand.
C# F# C#
He reached above the fireplace, and took down his daddy's picture.
G#7 C#
As the tears fell on his daddy's face, he heard these words again:
[Chorus]
C# F# C#
"Promise me, son, not to do the things I've done
F# C# G#
Walk away from trouble if you can.
C# F# C#
It won't mean you're weak if you turn the other cheek
C# F# G#
I hope you're old enough to understand,
G#7 C#
Son, you don't have to fight to be a man."
[Verse 3]
D G D
The Gatlin boys just laughed at him when he walked into the barroom;
A
One of them got up and met him half way cross the floor.
D G D
When Tommy turned around they said, "Hey look! old yeller's leaving,"
A D
But you could've heard a pin drop when Tommy stopped and locked the door.
D G D
Twenty years of crawling were bottled up inside him.
A
He wasn't holding nothing back - he let 'em have it all.
D G D
When Tommy left the bar room, not a Gatlin boy was standing.
A7 D
He said, "This one's for Becky, as he watched the last one fall.
(And I heard him say,)
[Chorus]
D G D
"I promised you, Dad, not to do the things you've done
G D 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,
D G A
And papa, I should hope you understand
A7 D
Sometimes you gotta fight when you're a man".
G D
Everyone considered him the coward of the county.