The Singing Scoutmaster: Coward Of The County

CEv'ryone considered him the Fcoward of the Ccounty,

he'd never stood one single time to prove the county Gwrong.

His Cmama named him Tommy, the Ffolks just called him 'CYellow',

but something always told me they were Greading Tommy Cwrong.

CHe was only ten years old when his Fdaddy died in Cprison,

I looked after Tommy 'cause he was my brother's Gson.

I Cstill recall the final words my Fbrother said to CTommy:

'Son, my life is over, but Gyour's has just beCgun.

C'Promise me, son, not to Fdo the things I've Cdone,

Fwalk away from Ctrouble if you Gcan.

CIt won't mean you're weak if you Fturn the other Ccheek,

I hope you're old eFnough to underGstand :

Son, you don't have to G7fight to be a Cman.'

DThere's someone for ev'ryone and GTommy's love was DBecky,

in her arms he didn't have to prove he was a Aman.

One Dday while he was workin' the GGatlin boys came Dcallin',

they took turns at Becky, Athere was three of Dthem!

DTommy opened up the door and Gsaw his Becky Dcryin',

the torn dress, the shattered look was more than he could Astand.

He Dreached above the fireplace and took Gdown his daddy's Dpicture,

as his tears fell on his daddy's face, he Aheard these words a-Dgain :

D'Promise me, son, not to Gdo the things I've Ddone,

Gwalk away from Dtrouble if you Acan.

DIt won't mean you're weak if you Gturn the other Dcheek,

I hope you're old eGnough to underAstand :

Son, you don't have to A7fight to be a Dman.'

The EGatlin boys just laughed at him when he Awalked into the Ebarroom,

one of them got up and met him halfway 'cross the B7floor.

When ETommy turned around they said, 'Hey Alook! Ol' Yellow's Eleavin'.'

NCBut you coulda heard a pin drop, when Tommy B7stopped and blocked the Edoor.

ETwenty years of crawlin' was Abottled up inEside him,

he wasn't holdin' nothin' back, he let 'em have it B7all.

When ETommy left the barroom not a AGatlin boy was Estandin',

he said, 'This one's for Becky,' as he B7watched the last one Efall.

NCAnd I heard him say :

'I Epromised you, Dad, not to Ado the things you Edone,

I Awalk away from Etrouble when I B7can.

Now Eplease don't think I'm weak, I didn't Aturn the other Echeek,

and Papa, I sure Ahope you underB7stand :

Sometimes you gotta B7fight when you're a Eman.'

EEv'ryone considered him the Acoward of the county E