Version
published by
diabcler
[Capo on 3]
[Verse]A D AEveryone considered him the coward of the countyEHe'd never stood one single time to prove the county wrong.A D AHis mama named him Tommy, but folks just called him yellow,A7 ESomething always told me they were reading Tommy wrong.[Verse]A D AHe was only ten years old when his daddy died in prison;EI took care of Tommy, 'cause he was my brother's son.A D AI 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 doneD A EWalk away from trouble if you can.A D AIt won't mean you're weak if you turn the other cheekA D EI hope you're old enough to understand,E7 ASon, you don't have to fight to be a man."[Verse]B E BThere'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 BOne day while he was working, the Gatlin boys came callingF# BThey took turns at Becky, (n' there was three of them).[Verse]B E BTommy opened up the door, and saw Becky crying.F#The torn dress, the shattered look was more than he could stand.B E BHe reached above the fireplace, and took down his daddy's picture.F#7 BAs 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 doneE B F#Walk away from trouble if you can.B E BIt won't mean you're weak if you turn the other cheekB E F#I hope you're old enough to understand,F#7 BSon, you don't have to fight to be a man."[Verse]C F CThe Gatlin boys just laughed at him when he walked into the barroom;GOne of them got up and met him half way cross the floor.C F CWhen Tommy turned around they said, "Hey look! old yeller's leaving,"G CBut you could've heard a pin drop when Tommy stopped and locked the door.[Verse]C F CTwenty years of crawling were bottled up inside him.GHe wasn't holding nothing back - he let 'em have it all.C F CWhen Tommy left the bar room, not a Gatlin boy was standing.G7 CHe 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 doneF C GI walk away from trouble when I canC F CNow please don't think I'm weak, I didn't turn the other cheek,C F GAnd papa, I should hope you understandG7 CSometimes you gotta fight when you're a man".F CEveryone considered him the coward of the county.