Coward Of The County

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[Intro]
C
[Verse 1]
C F C
Everyone considered him the coward of the county
C G7
He'd never stood one single time to prove the county wrong.
C F C
His mama named him Tommy, but folks just called him yellow,
C G7 C
Something always told me they were reading Tommy wrong.
C F C
He was only ten years old when his daddy died in prison;
C G7
I looked after Tommy 'cause he was my brother's son.
C F C
I still recall the final words my brother said to Tommy,
C G7 C
"Son, my life is over, but yours has just begun".
[Chorus]
C F C
"Promise me, son, not to do the things I've done
F C G7
Walk away from trouble if you can.
C F C
Now it won't mean you're weak if you turn the other cheek
C F G
I hope you're old enough to understand,
G7 C
Son, you don't have to fight to be a man."
[Verse 2]
C# F# C#
There's someone for everyone, and Tommy's love was Becky.
C# G#7
In her arms he didn't have to prove he was a man.
C# F# C#
One day while he was working, the Gatlin boys came calling
C# G#7 C#
They took turns at Becky (an' there was three of them).
C# F# C#
Tommy opened up the door, and saw his Becky crying.
C# G#7
The torn dress, the shattered look was more than he could stand.
C# F# C#
He reached above the fireplace, and took down his daddy's picture.
C# G#7 C#
As his tears fell on his daddy's face, he heard these words again:
[Chorus]
C# F# C#
"Promise me, son, not to do the things I've done
F# C# G#7
Walk away from trouble if you can.
C# F# C#
Now it won't mean you're weak if you turn the other cheek
C# F# G#
I hope you're old enough to understand,
G#7 C#
Son, you don't have to fight to be a man."
[Verse 3]
D G D
The Gatlin boys just laughed at him when he walked into the barroom;
D A7
One of them got up and met him half way 'cross the floor.
D G D
When Tommy turned around they said, "Hey look, old yeller's leaving,"
D A7 D
But you could've heard a pin drop when Tommy stopped and locked the door.
D G D
Twenty years of crawling was bottled up inside him.
D A7
He wasn't holding nothing back - he let 'em have it all.
D G D
When Tommy left the barroom, not a Gatlin boy was standing.
D A7 D
He said, "This one's for Becky", as he watched the last one fall. (And I heard him say,)
[Chorus]
D G D
"I promised you, Dad, not to do the things you've done
G D A7
I walk away from trouble when I can.
D G D
Now please don't think I'm weak, I didn't turn the other cheek,
D G A
And Papa, I sure hope you understand,
A7 D
Sometimes you gotta fight when you're a man".
D G D
Everyone considered him the coward of the county.

Coward Of The County chords and lyrics

Free chords for Coward Of The County by Kenny Rogers. Scroll the interactive sheet above or read the chord names inline below.

[Intro]
C
[Verse 1]
[Chorus]
[Verse 2]
[Chorus]
[Verse 3]
[Chorus]

Coward Of The County Chords by Kenny Rogers

Learn how to play Coward Of The County by Kenny Rogers with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Coward Of The County chords”, “Coward Of The County guitar chords”, or “Kenny Rogers Coward Of The County chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy Coward Of The County chords and for experienced players who want accurate Coward Of The County lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include C, F, G7, G, C#, F#.

Frequently asked questions about Coward Of The County

How do I play "Coward Of The County" by Kenny Rogers on guitar?

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Can I transpose "Coward Of The County" to a different key?

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Yes. Tap any chord in "Coward Of The County" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "Coward Of The County" easy to play on guitar?

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What key is "Coward Of The County" in?

The chords for "Coward Of The County" show the original chord names (including C, F, G7, G, C#, F#). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.