About the Song
Kenny Rogers was an American country music singer and songwriter whose career spanned over six decades. He was known for his distinctive voice and his smooth, easygoing style. Rogers was one of the best-selling music artists of all time, with over 120 million records sold worldwide. He won numerous awards, including three Grammy Awards, 19 American Music Awards, and 11 Country Music Association Awards.
One of Rogers’s most famous songs is “Coward of the County”. The song was written by Roger Bowling and Billy Edd Wheeler and was released in 1979. It tells the story of a man who is wrongly labeled a coward. The song was a major hit, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart and number three on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It has become one of Rogers’s signature songs and is considered a classic country music song.
The song begins with the narrator introducing the main character, Tommy. Tommy is a young man who has been labeled a coward by the people in his town. He has never stood up for himself or fought back against anyone, even when he has been wronged. The narrator sings, “Everyone considered him the coward of the county / He’d never stood one single time to prove the county wrong.”
The song then goes on to tell the story of how Tommy came to be labeled a coward. When he was just a boy, his father was killed in a fight. Tommy’s father was a good man who always stood up for what was right. Tommy’s mother told him that he didn’t have to fight to be a man, and that it was okay to walk away from trouble. Tommy took his mother’s words to heart, and he vowed to never fight again.
As Tommy grew older, he continued to be bullied and harassed by the people in his town. He was called names and made fun of. He was even beaten up on a few occasions. But Tommy never fought back. He always turned the other cheek and walked away.
One day, Tommy meets a girl named Becky. Becky is kind and beautiful, and Tommy quickly falls in love with her. But Becky’s father, the town sheriff, doesn’t approve of Tommy. He thinks that Tommy is a coward and doesn’t want him dating his daughter.
One night, Tommy and Becky are out on a date when they are attacked by a group of men. The men beat up Tommy and leave him for dead. But Tommy survives, and he vows to get revenge.
Tommy goes to the sheriff’s office and tells the sheriff what happened. But the sheriff doesn’t believe him. He tells Tommy that he is just a coward and that he should go home and hide.
Tommy is furious. He knows that he is not a coward, and he is determined to prove it to everyone. He goes to the bar where the men who attacked him are hanging out. He confronts them, and a fight breaks out.
Tommy fights bravely, and he defeats the men who attacked him. He proves to everyone that he is not a coward. He is a man who will stand up for what is right, even when it means fighting.
The song ends with Tommy and Becky riding off into the sunset together. They are finally free to be together, and Tommy has finally proven that he is not a coward.
“Coward of the County” is a powerful song about overcoming adversity. It is a story about a man who is wrongly labeled a coward, but who eventually proves to everyone that he is not. The song is a reminder that we should never judge someone based on their appearance or their past. We should always give people a chance to prove themselves.
The song is also a reminder that it is okay to walk away from trouble. Sometimes, the best way to deal with a situation is to avoid it altogether. There is no shame in walking away from a fight, especially if you are outnumbered or outmatched.
“Coward of the County” is a classic country music song that has stood the test of time. It is a song that everyone can relate to, regardless of their age or background. The song is a message of hope and inspiration, and it is a reminder that we should never give up on ourselves.
Video
Lyrics
Everyone considered him the coward of the countyHe’d never stood one single time to prove the county wrongHis mama named him Tommy, but folks just called him YellowBut something always told me, they were reading Tommy wrongHe was only ten years old when his daddy died in prisonI looked after Tommy, ’cause he was my brother’s sonI still recall the final words my brother said to Tommy“Son, my life is over, but yours has just begun”“Promise me, son, not to do the things I’ve doneWalk away from trouble if you canNow it won’t mean you’re weak if you turn the other cheekI hope you’re old enough to understandSon, you don’t have to fight to be a man”There’s someone for everyone and Tommy’s love was BeckyIn her arms, he didn’t have to prove he was a manOne day while he was working, the Gatlin boys came callingThey took turns at Becky an’ there was three of themTommy opened up the door and saw Becky cryingThe torn dress, the shattered look was more than he could standHe reached above the fireplace and took down his daddy’s pictureAs his tears fell on his daddy’s face, he heard these words again“Promise me, Son, not to do the things I’ve doneWalk away from trouble if you canNow it won’t mean you’re weak if you turn the other cheekI hope you’re old enough to understandSon, you don’t have to fight to be a man”The Gatlin boys just laughed at him when he walked into the bar roomOne of them got up and met him half way cross the floorWhen Tommy turned around they said, “Hey look! Old Yellow’s leaving”But you could’ve heard a pin drop when Tommy stopped and locked the doorTwenty years of crawling was bottled up inside himHe wasn’t holding nothing back, he let ’em have it allWhen Tommy left the bar room, not a Gatlin boy was standingHe said, “This one’s for Becky”, as he watched the last one fallAnd I heard him say“I promised you, Dad, not to do the things you’ve doneI walk away from trouble when I canNow please don’t think I’m weak, I didn’t turn the other cheekAnd Papa, I should hope you understandSometimes you gotta fight when you’re a man”Everyone considered him the coward of the county