Hello guys and welcome to week34 of the vibes music competition. Today I have made a cover of a country song called coward of the county by Kenny rogers. It was released in 1979 and is peculiar for its story telling feature.
This song reminds me of parental advice. I recall some years ago my dad would tell me not to get into trouble with anyone in school but then life happens and the moment I got to university, there was no way of avoiding trouble. So this song gave me a feeling of nostalgia. Tommys father wasn't there anymore but gave an advice in line with his own life. However, Tommy's life growing up was a total hell and if he didn't stand up for himself, he might just as well have never existed. I loved the last chorus more because its sending a report back to the father about what comes your way when you're a man
Lyrics of the Song (Kenny Rogers)
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
But something always told me, they were reading Tommy wrong
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 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 2
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 an' there was three of them
Tommy opened up the door and saw Becky crying
The torn dress, the shattered look was more than he could stand
He reached above the fireplace and took down his daddy's picture
As his tears 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 3
The Gatlin boys just laughed at him when he walked into the bar room
One of them got up and met him half way cross the floor
When 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 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
And I heard him say
chorus
"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
Papa, I should hope you understand
Sometimes you gotta fight when you're a man"
My Promotional Video (still active for week34)
