Kenny Rogers – Coward of the County, is a song written by Roger Bowling and Billy Ed Wheeler, and recorded by American country music singer Kenny Rogers. The song was released in November 1979 as the second single from Rogers’ multi-platinum album Kenny. It became a major crossover hit, topping the Billboard Country chart and reaching #3 on the Hot 100 chart; it also topped the Cash Box singles chart and was a Top 10 hit in numerous other countries worldwide topping the chart in Canada, the UK, and also in Ireland where it stayed at #1 for six consecutive weeks.
It has been claimed that mention of the “Gatlin boys … there was three of them” in the song was a reference to The Gatlin Brothers. However, in The Billboard Book of Number One Country Singles, Rogers stated that he was unaware of the connection, and that he would have otherwise asked for the name to be changed. Larry Gatlin also gave the song a positive review (“It’s a good song”). Writer Billy Edd Wheeler denied that the lyric was a reference to the Gatlin Brothers.
Kenny Rogers – Coward of the County
From the album Kenny
B-side “I Want to Make You Smile”
Released November 12, 1979
Genre Country
Length 4:20
Label United Artists
Songwriter(s) Roger Bowling, Billy Ed Wheeler
Producer(s) Larry Butler
COUNTRYPEDIA
Kenny Rogers – Coward of the County Lyrics
[Verse 1]
Everyone considered him the coward of the county
He’d never stood one single time to prove the county wrong
His mama named him Tommy, but folks just called him yellow
Something always told me they were reading Tommy wrong
[Verse 2]
He was only ten years old when his daddy died in prison
I looked after Tommy ’cause he was my brother’s son
I still recall the final words my brother said to Tommy
“Son, my life is over, but yours has just begun”
[Chorus]
Promise me, son, not to do the things I’ve done
Walk away from trouble if you can
Now it don’t mean you’re weak if you turn the other cheek
I hope you’re old enough to understand
Son, you don’t have to fight to be a man
[Verse 3]
There’s someone for everyone, and Tommy’s love was Becky
In her arms he didn’t have to prove he was a man
One day while he was working, the Gatlin boys came calling
They took turns at Becky, n’there was three of them
Tommy opened up the door and saw his Becky crying
The torn dress, the shattered look was more than he could stand
He reached above the fireplace, took down his daddy’s picture
As a tear fell on his daddy’s face, he heard these words again
[Chorus]
Promise me, son, not to do the things I’ve done
Walk away from trouble if you can
Now it won’t mean you’re weak if you turn the other cheek
I hope you’re old enough to understand
Son, you don’t have to fight to be a man
[Verse 4]
The Gatlin boys just laughed at him
When he walked into the barroom
One of them got up and met him half way cross the floor
Tommy turned around they said, “Hey look, old yella’s leavin'”
But you could’ve heard a pin drop
When Tommy stopped and locked the door
Twenty years of crawling was bottled up inside him
He wasn’t holding nothing back, he let ’em have it all
When Tommy left the bar room, not a Gatlin boy was standing
He said, “This one’s for Becky” as he watched the last one fall
N’ I heard him say
[Chorus 2]
I promised you, Dad, not to do the things you’ve done
I walk away from trouble when I can
Now please don’t think I’m weak, I didn’t turn the other cheek
And Papa, I sure hope you understand
Sometimes you gotta fight when you’re a man
[Outro]
Everyone considered him the coward of the county
GENIUS
