G C G
Everyone considered him the coward of the county
G D7
He never stood one single time to prove the county wrong
G C G
His mama named him Tommy but folks just called him yellow
G D7 G
Something always told me they were reading Tommy wrong
G C G
He was only ten years old when his daddy died in prison
G D7
I looked after Tommy cause he was my brother’s son
G C G
I still recall the final words my brother said to Tommy
G D7 G
Son my life is over but yours is just begun
G C G
Promise me son not to do the things I’ve done
C G D7
Walk away from trouble if you can
G C G
Now it don’t mean you’re weak if you turn the other cheek
G C D7
I hope you’re old enough to understand
C D7 G
You don’t have to fight to be a man
G C G
There’s someone for everyone and Tommy’s love was Becky
D7
In her arms he didn’t have to prove he was a man
G C G
One day while he was working the Gatlin Boys came calling
G D7 G
They took turns at Becky there were three of them
G C G
Tommy opened up the door and saw his Becky crying
D7
The torn dress the shattered look was more than he could stand
G C G
He reached above the fireplace and took down his daddy’s picture
G D7 G
As his tears fell on his daddy’s face he heard these words again
G C G
Promise me son not to do the things I’ve done
C G D7
Walk away from trouble if you can
G C G
Now it don’t mean you’re weak if you turn the other cheek
G C D7
I hope you’re old enough to understand
C D7 G
You don’t have to fight to be a man
G C G
The Gatlin boys just laughed at him when he walked into the barroom
G D7
One of the got up and hit him halfway cross the floor
G C G
Tommy turned around they said hey look ole Yellow’s leaving
G D7
But you coulda heard a pin drop when Tommy stopped
G
and locked the door
G C G
Twenty years of crawling was bottled up inside him
G D7
He wasn’t holding nothing back he let ’em have it all
G C G
When Tommy left the barroom not a Gatlin boy was standing
G D7 G
He said this one’s for Becky as he watched the last one fall
G
And I heard him say
G C G
I promised you Dad not to do the things you’ve done
C G D7
I’ll walk away from trouble if I can
G C G
Now Please don’t think I’m weak I couldn’t turn the other cheek
G D7
Papa I sure hope you understand
C D7 G
Sometimes you gotta fight when you’re a man
G C G
Everyone considered him the coward of the county
Everyone considered him the coward of the county
G D7
He never stood one single time to prove the county wrong
G C G
His mama named him Tommy but folks just called him yellow
G D7 G
Something always told me they were reading Tommy wrong
G C G
He was only ten years old when his daddy died in prison
G D7
I looked after Tommy cause he was my brother’s son
G C G
I still recall the final words my brother said to Tommy
G D7 G
Son my life is over but yours is just begun
G C G
Promise me son not to do the things I’ve done
C G D7
Walk away from trouble if you can
G C G
Now it don’t mean you’re weak if you turn the other cheek
G C D7
I hope you’re old enough to understand
C D7 G
You don’t have to fight to be a man
G C G
There’s someone for everyone and Tommy’s love was Becky
D7
In her arms he didn’t have to prove he was a man
G C G
One day while he was working the Gatlin Boys came calling
G D7 G
They took turns at Becky there were three of them
G C G
Tommy opened up the door and saw his Becky crying
D7
The torn dress the shattered look was more than he could stand
G C G
He reached above the fireplace and took down his daddy’s picture
G D7 G
As his tears fell on his daddy’s face he heard these words again
G C G
Promise me son not to do the things I’ve done
C G D7
Walk away from trouble if you can
G C G
Now it don’t mean you’re weak if you turn the other cheek
G C D7
I hope you’re old enough to understand
C D7 G
You don’t have to fight to be a man
G C G
The Gatlin boys just laughed at him when he walked into the barroom
G D7
One of the got up and hit him halfway cross the floor
G C G
Tommy turned around they said hey look ole Yellow’s leaving
G D7
But you coulda heard a pin drop when Tommy stopped
G
and locked the door
G C G
Twenty years of crawling was bottled up inside him
G D7
He wasn’t holding nothing back he let ’em have it all
G C G
When Tommy left the barroom not a Gatlin boy was standing
G D7 G
He said this one’s for Becky as he watched the last one fall
G
And I heard him say
G C G
I promised you Dad not to do the things you’ve done
C G D7
I’ll walk away from trouble if I can
G C G
Now Please don’t think I’m weak I couldn’t turn the other cheek
G D7
Papa I sure hope you understand
C D7 G
Sometimes you gotta fight when you’re a man
G C G
Everyone considered him the coward of the county
https://youtube.com/watch?v=P4ZSds0GT64