| [00:10.5] |
Everyone considered him the coward of the county |
| [00:16.79] |
He'd never stood one single time to prove the county wrong |
| [00:24.67] |
His mama named him Tommy, but folks just called him yellow |
| [00:31.61] |
Something always told me they were reading Tommy wrong. |
| [00:38.34] |
He was only ten years old when his daddy died in prison |
| [00:45.09] |
I looked after Tommy, 'cause he was my brother's son |
| [00:52.00] |
I still recall the final words my brother said to Tommy |
| [00:58.89] |
"Son my life is over, but yours has just begun". |
| [01:04.70] |
CHORUS: |
| [01:04.88] |
Rogers Kenny |
| [01:05.82] |
"Promise me son not to do the things I've done |
| [01:11.81] |
Walk away from trouble if you can |
| [01:16.31] |
It won't mean you're weak if you turn the other cheek |
| [01:21.73] |
I hope you're old enough to understand |
| [01:27.21] |
Son, you don't have to fight to be a man". |
| [01:33.00] |
There's someone for everyone, and Tommy's love was Becky |
| [01:39.45] |
In her arms he didn't have to prove he was a man |
| [01:46.27] |
One day while he was working, the Gatlin boys came calling |
| [01:53.17] |
They took turns at Becky (there was three of them). |
| [02:00.19] |
Tommy opened up the door, and saw Becky crying |
| [02:06.82] |
The torn dress, the shattered look was more than he could stand |
| [02:13.76] |
He reached above the fireplace, and took down his daddy's picture |
| [02:20.47] |
As his tears fell on his daddy's face, he heard this words again. |
| [02:54.71] |
The Gatlin boys just laughed at him when he walked into the bar room |
| [03:01.39] |
One of them got up and met him half way cross the floor |
| [03:08.30] |
When Tommy turned around they said "Hey look old yellow's leaving" |
| [03:14.91] |
But you could've heard a pin drop when Tommy stopped and locked the door. |
| [03:22.11] |
Twenty years of crawling were bottled up inside him |
| [03:28.79] |
He would hold nothing back --he let'em have it all |
| [03:35.39] |
When Tommy left the bar room, not a Gatlin boy was standing |
| [03:43.78] |
He said this ones for Becky, as he watched the last one fall |
| [03:48.63] |
(now hear him say) |
| [03:49.05] |
"I promised you dad not to do the things you've done |
| [03:54.94] |
I walk away from trouble when I can |
| [03:59.87] |
Now please don't think I'm weak I didn't turn the other cheek |
| [04:05.27] |
And papa I should hope you understand |
| [04:10.78] |
Sometimes you gotta fight when you're a man". |
| [04:16.54] |
Everyone considered him the coward of the county. |
