Table of Contents
Introduction
Coward of the County by Kenny Rogers – the famous American music singer – is a memorable country song. It was written by Kenny Rogers himself.
This page provides information about the song and links to the official video and the lyrics.
Coward of the County by Kenny Rogers
Level
Beginner and intermediate students.
Facts about the song
- Song: Coward of the County
- Album: Kenny
- Date of release: November 12, 1979
- Genre: Rock
- Song length: 4 minutes, 22 seconds
- Writer: Roger Bowling and Billy Ed Wheeler
- Produced by: Larry Butler
Interesting information about the song
The Coward of the County by Kenny Rogers was released in November 1979 as the second single from Rogers’ multi-platinum album “Kenny”. It achieved significant success, topping the Billboard Country Chart and reaching number three on the Hot 100 chart. It also topped the Cash Box singles chart and was a Top 10 hit in many countries worldwide, including Canada, the UK, and Ireland, where it stayed at number one for six consecutive weeks.
Another interesting information about the song os related to the reference to the “Gatlin boys”:
The song sparked controversy regarding the mention of the “Gatlin boys,” leading to speculation that it referred to the Gatlin Brothers. However, Kenny Rogers claimed he was unaware of this connection and would have requested a name change if he had known.
Larry Gatlin enjoyed the song, and songwriter Billy Edd Wheeler denied any reference to the Gatlin Brothers. Gatlin later suggested that co-writer Roger Bowling held a grudge against him, stemming from an incident at the 1977 CMA Awards.
According to Gatlin, Bowling’s bitterness led to the inclusion of Gatlin’s name in the song. Billy Edd Wheeler mentioned that the feud between Bowling and Gatlin might have originated during a visit to Kenny’s producer Larry Butler’s office.
The topic of the song
The song tells the story of Tommy, who is seen as a coward by his community because he avoids confrontation. He’s advised by his dying father and by his uncle to avoid trouble and to walk away from fights. Despite this, when Tommy’s girlfriend, Becky, is assaulted by the Gatlin boys, he fights back, showing his true strength and courage. The song explores themes of courage, honor, and the complexity of masculinity, challenging the notion that one must always resort to violence to prove their manhood.
The video
You can watch the official clip of the song below:
The lyrics
Language points
The song includes many examples of the simple past, the past perfect, and the past continuous. Here are some expressions that may be useful to students:
- He’d never stood one single time to prove the county wrong
- His mama named him Tommy
- But folks just called him yellow
- Something always told me
- They were reading Tommy wrong
Useful vocabulary from the song
- prove someone wrong
- recall
- promise
- be old enough
- shattered look
- laugh at
- county
- turn the other cheek
- trouble
Song’s Vocabulary Quiz
Complete these sentences using the words listed above
- Tommy’s actions __________. His actions showed his true strength and courage.
- When Tommy saw Becky crying, he was struck by her __________.
- Tommy’s father asked him to __________ not to follow his example.
- Tommy’s uncle advised him to walk away from __________.
- The people in the __________ considered Tommy a coward.
- The Gatlin boys used to __________ Tommy because he avoided confrontation.
- Some people think that if someone insults you, it’s often better to __________ rather than retaliate.
- Tommy could vividly __________ the final words his brother said to him before he died.
Conclusion
In conclusion, “Coward of the County” is an ideal song for learning or teaching English. Its narrative style and clear language make it accessible to learners of all levels. The song covers themes such as courage, love, and standing up for oneself, providing rich material for vocabulary and grammar practice.
Additionally, its memorable melody and storytelling format make it engaging for learners, helping to reinforce language concepts effectively. Whether in a classroom setting or for self-study, “Coward of the County” offers a valuable resource for English language learners.
Source: Wikipedia