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 brotherʼs 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 Iʼve done C G D7 Walk away from trouble if you can G C G Now it donʼt mean youʼre weak if you turn the other cheek G C D7 I hope youʼre old enough to understand C D7 G You donʼt have to fight to be a man G C G Thereʼs someone for everyone and Tommyʼs love was Becky D7 In her arms he didnʼt 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 daddyʼs picture G D7 G As his tears fell on his daddyʼs face he heard these words again G C G Promise me son not to do the things Iʼve done C G D7 Walk away from trouble if you can G C G Now it donʼt mean youʼre weak if you turn the other cheek G C D7 I hope youʼre old enough to understand C D7 G You donʼt 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 Yellowʼs 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 wasnʼt holding nothing back he let ʼem have it all G C G When Tommy left the barroom not a Gatlin boy was standing G D7 G He said this oneʼs 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 youʼve done C G D7 Iʼll walk away from trouble if I can G C G Now Please donʼt think Iʼm weak I couldnʼt turn the other cheek G D7 Papa I sure hope you understand C D7 G Sometimes you gotta fight when youʼre a man G C G Everyone considered him the coward of the county
