F# B F# Everyone considered him the coward of the county F# C#7 He never stood one single time to prove the county wrong F# B F# His mama named him Tommy but folks just called him yellow F# C#7 F# Something always told me they were reading Tommy wrong F# B F# He was only ten years old when his daddy died in prison F# C#7 I looked after Tommy cause he was my brotherʼs son F# B F# I still recall the final words my brother said to Tommy F# C#7 F# Son my life is over but yours is just begun F# B F# Promise me son not to do the things Iʼve done B F# C#7 Walk away from trouble if you can F# B F# Now it donʼt mean youʼre weak if you turn the other cheek F# B C#7 I hope youʼre old enough to understand B C#7 F# You donʼt have to fight to be a man F# B F# Thereʼs someone for everyone and Tommyʼs love was Becky C#7 In her arms he didnʼt have to prove he was a man F# B F# One day while he was working the Gatlin Boys came calling F# C#7 F# They took turns at Becky there were three of them F# B F# Tommy opened up the door and saw his Becky crying C#7 The torn dress the shattered look was more than he could stand F# B F# He reached above the fireplace and took down his daddyʼs picture F# C#7 F# As his tears fell on his daddyʼs face he heard these words again F# B F# Promise me son not to do the things Iʼve done B F# C#7 Walk away from trouble if you can F# B F# Now it donʼt mean youʼre weak if you turn the other cheek F# B C#7 I hope youʼre old enough to understand B C#7 F# You donʼt have to fight to be a man F# B F# The Gatlin boys just laughed at him when he walked into the barroom F# C#7 One of the got up and hit him halfway cross the floor F# B F# Tommy turned around they said hey look ole Yellowʼs leaving F# C#7 But you coulda heard a pin drop when Tommy stopped F# and locked the door F# B F# Twenty years of crawling was bottled up inside him F# C#7 He wasnʼt holding nothing back he let ʼem have it all F# B F# When Tommy left the barroom not a Gatlin boy was standing F# C#7 F# He said this oneʼs for Becky as he watched the last one fall F# And I heard him say F# B F# I promised you Dad not to do the things youʼve done B F# C#7 Iʼll walk away from trouble if I can F# B F# Now Please donʼt think Iʼm weak I couldnʼt turn the other cheek F# C#7 Papa I sure hope you understand B C#7 F# Sometimes you gotta fight when youʼre a man F# B F# Everyone considered him the coward of the county
