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Version 1 Version 2[Verse 1] A D A Everyone considered him the coward of the county E He'd never stood one single time to prove the county wrong. A D A His mama named him Tommy, but folks just called him yellow, A7 E Something always told me they were reading Tommy wrong. A D A He was only ten years old when his daddy died in prison; E I took care of Tommy, 'cause he was my brother's son. A D A I still recall the final words my brother said to Tommy, E "Son my life is over, but yours has just begun". [Chorus] A D A "Promise me, son, not to do the things I've done D A E Walk away from trouble if you can. A D A It won't mean you're weak if you turn the other cheek A D E I hope you're old enough to understand, E7 A Son, you don't have to fight to be a man." [Verse 2] B E B There's someone for everyone, and Tommy's love was Becky. F# In her arms he didn't have to prove he was a man. B E B One day while he was working, the Gatlin boys came calling F# B They took turns at Becky, (n' there was three of them). B E B Tommy opened up the door, and saw Becky crying. F# The torn dress, the shattered look was more than he could stand. B E B He reached above the fireplace, and took down his daddy's picture. F#7 B As the tears fell on his daddy's face, he heard these words again: [Chorus] B E B "Promise me, son, not to do the things I've done E B F# Walk away from trouble if you can. B E B It won't mean you're weak if you turn the other cheek B E F# I hope you're old enough to understand, F#7 B Son, you don't have to fight to be a man." [Verse 3] C F C The Gatlin boys just laughed at him when he walked into the barroom; G One of them got up and met him half way cross the floor. C F C When Tommy turned around they said, "Hey look! old yeller's leaving," G C But you could've heard a pin drop when Tommy stopped and locked the door. C F C Twenty years of crawling were bottled up inside him. G He wasn't holding nothing back - he let 'em have it all. C F C When Tommy left the bar room, not a Gatlin boy was standing. G7 C He said, "This one's for Becky, as he watched the last one fall. (And I heard him say,) [Chorus] C F C "I promised you, Dad, not to do the things you've done F C G I walk away from trouble when I can C F C Now please don't think I'm weak, I didn't turn the other cheek, C F G And papa, I should hope you understand G7 C Sometimes you gotta fight when you're a man". F C Everyone considered him the coward of the county.