This is another one of Kenny Rogers' classic songs, like " The Gambler " (1978), which not only features a movie-like story line but also contains an implied life lesson. It is centered on a character named "Tommy" who as a child is referred to as "Yellow", i. e. a coward, due to his pacifist ways. In fact his father, who is deceased, makes him promise to "turn the other cheek", as in not respond violently when physically challenged, as opposed to getting into fights. Moreover his late father told him that fighting is not what defines his manhood. And he is seemingly giving him this advice to prevent Tommy from replicating the same kind of mistakes that landed him prison, where he ultimately passed away while the boy was just 10-years old. The Narrator (Kenny Rogers) is Tommy's Uncle Furthermore, it should be noted that Kenny Rogers, the narrator, is relaying this tale from the perspective of Tommy's uncle, i. his father's brother. Eventually Tommy, upon getting older, falls in love with a lady named "Becky", who likewise loves him, as she isn't the type to be impressed by acts of machismo.
(Spoken) And I heard him say, "I promised you, Dad, not to do the things you done. I walk away from trouble when I can. Now please don't think I'm weak, I didn't turn the other cheek, and Papa, I sure hope you understand: Sometimes you gotta fight when you're a man. " A D (No chords) A Ev'ryone considered him the coward of the county.
Though The Years by Kenny Rogers Key: G G | Capo: 0 fr | Left-Handed Intro: G Em Am D7 Bm Em D7 G B7 Em I can't remember when you weren't there, G7 C D7 Bm When I didn't care for anyone but you. D7 G B7 Em I swear we've been through everything there is, G C Can't imagine anything we've missed Bm Em C D7 Can't imagine anything the two of us can't do. 1st Chorus: Bm Through the years Em Am You never let me down, D7 Bm You've turned my life around. The sweetest days I've found I've found with you. I've never been afraid, I've loved the life we've made Em C Am And I'm so glad I've stayed right here with you D7 G Through the years. G - B7 - Em I can't remember what I used to do, G7 - C - D7 - Bm Who I trusted, who I listened to before. D7 - G - B7 - Em I swear you've taught me everything I know G - C I can't imagine needing someone so. But through the years it seems to me Em - C - D7 I need you more and more 2nd Chorus: Through the years, Em - Am Through all the good and bad, D7 - Bm I knew how much we had, I've always been so glad to be with you.
In fact this track proved to be so popular that it led to the creation of a "Coward of the County" television movie, which featured Kenny Rogers himself as Tommy's uncle. And the same thing actually happened with a single Rogers released a year prior, "The Gambler". It has been speculated that "the Gatlin boys" mentioned in the song is actually a reference to one Larry Gatlin – a country musician in his own right – and his two brothers, whom he occasionally performed with. Moreover it just so happens that Larry had a girlfriend named Becky. Kenny Rogers himself did not realize this similarity upon recording the song. And one of the co-writers, Billy Edd Wheeler, flat-out denied that such a connection was intentional. However, Larry Gatlin went on to point out that the other writer, Roger Bowling, did in fact have some type of personal beef with him. Moreover he stated that he and his brothers "started getting accused of being rapists" due to "the Gatlin boys" namedrop in "Coward of the County".
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 is just begun. A E A Promise me, son, not to do the things I've done. D A E Walk away from trouble if you can. It won't mean you're weak if you turn the other cheek. D E I hope you're old enough to understand: E7 A Son, you don't have to fight to be a man. " [Slide capo to 4th fret] There's someone for ev'ryone and Tommy's love was Becky. In her arms he didn't have to prove he was a man. One day while he was workin' the Gatlin boys came callin'. E [Spoken] A They took turns at Becky.... There was three of them! Tommy opened up the door and saw his Becky cryin'. 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: "Promise me, son, not to do the things I've done.