Coward of the County

"Coward of the County" is a song written by Roger Bowling and Billy Edd Wheeler and recorded by American country music singer Kenny Rogers. The song was released in November 1979 as the second single from Rogers' multi-platinum album Kenny. It became a major crossover hit, 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 numerous other countries worldwide, topping the chart in Canada, the UK and Ireland, where it remained at number one for six consecutive weeks.[1]

"Coward of the County"
Single by Kenny Rogers
from the album Kenny
B-side"I Want to Make You Smile"
ReleasedNovember 12, 1979
GenreCountry
Length4:20
LabelUnited Artists
Songwriter(s)Roger Bowling, Billy Edd Wheeler
Producer(s)Larry Butler
Kenny Rogers singles chronology
"You Decorated My Life"
(1979)		 "Coward of the County"
(1979)		 "Don't Fall in Love with a Dreamer"
(1980)

Content

The narrator sings about his ward and nephew Tommy, widely considered a coward. Tommy's nonviolent attitude was influenced by his father, who had died in prison when Tommy was ten years old. During Tommy's last visit with his father, from his deathbed Tommy's father pleaded with him to avoid the same mistakes that he had made ("promise me, son, not to do the things I've done..."), telling him that "turning the other cheek" is not a sign of weakness and advising him, "Son, you don't have to fight to be a man."

Years later, Tommy is in a relationship with a woman named Becky who loves and accepts him. One day while Tommy is at work, the three Gatlin brothers sexually assault Becky. When he returns home and finds Becky crying, he must choose between defending her honor or upholding his father's plea to "walk away from trouble when he can."

When Tommy enters the barroom, the Gatlins laugh at him. Tommy then fights all three Gatlin boys, knocking each to the floor. He hopes that his father understands that "sometimes you gotta fight when you're a man."

Controversy regarding "The Gatlin Boys" lyric

It has been claimed that mention of the "Gatlin boys ... there was three of them" in the song was a reference to the Gatlin Brothers. However, in The Billboard Book of Number One Country Singles, Rogers stated that he was unaware of the connection and that he would have otherwise asked for the name to be changed. Larry Gatlin liked the song,[2] and songwriter Billy Edd Wheeler denied that the lyric was a reference to the Gatlin Brothers.[3]

Gatlin later claimed in an interview on The Adam Carolla Show that the song’s cowriter Roger Bowling held a personal grudge against him for unknown reasons. Gatlin stated that when Bowling won song of the year for "Lucille" at the 1977 CMA Awards, Gatlin approached Bowling to congratulate him, but Bowling said "fuck you, Gatlin!' and an exchange of harsh words followed. Gatlin claimed that the incident led to the inclusion of his name in the lyrics for "Coward of the County."[4]

In a 2013 interview with the song's co-writer, Billy Edd Wheeler suggested that the beef between Bowling and Gatlin arose during a visit to the office of Kenny's producer Larry Butler.

"...Roger had crossed swords with Larry Gatlin in Larry Butler’s office. Roger was sitting there and Larry Butler said to Gatlin, “I suppose you know Roger Bowling?” Larry Gatlin replied, 'No, but I’m sure he knows me.' ... Roger Bowling was quick witted. Instantly he said, 'Gatlin, Gatlin? Uh, is your family in guns?' Supposedly, it pissed Gatlin off a bit."[5]

Chart performance

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[29] Gold 75,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[30] Gold 500,000^
United States (RIAA)[31] Gold 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Cover versions

Alvin and the Chipmunks covered the song with several lyric changes for the 1981 album Urban Chipmunk.

Jamaican dancehall musician Sister Nancy performed a version on her 1982 album "One, Two" as "Coward of the Country." Her version also includes elements of the songs "Banana Boat Song" and "In the Ghetto."[32]

The Dutch singer Gerard Schoonebeek covered the song in 1980, a Dutch version, called "Lafaard van de stad".

Film adaptation

The song inspired a 1981 television movie of the same name[33] directed by Dick Lowry, who also directed all but the last of The Gambler television movie saga pentalogy.

The film stars Rogers as Tommy's uncle Reverend Matthew Spencer (who sang the song in the film), and features Fredric Lehne as Tommy Spencer, Largo Woodruff as Becky and William Schreiner as James Joseph "Jimmy Joe" Gatlin, the lead bully of the Gatlin family clan. The movie added several characters not mentioned in the song, including Car-Wash (Noble Willingham), a friend of the Spencers, Violet (Ana Alicia), another local girl who is also in love with Tommy and Lem Gatlin (Joe Dorsey), the father of the Gatlin boys.

Set in small-town Georgia during the onset of America's involvement in World War II, the film's plot expands on the story in the song. Jimmy Joe Gatlin proclaims that Becky is his girl, although Becky repeatedly states that she is not. Her rejection of Jimmy Joe's advances and her romance with Tommy cause the Gatlins to assault Becky just days before she and Tommy are to be married.

In a huge barroom brawl with the Gatlins, Tommy prevails with the help of Matthew, who has recently resigned his position with the church. After the Gatlin brothers are convicted for gang-raping Becky, Tommy joins the Marines and must report for duty after his wedding to Becky, and the church deacons invite Matthew to return.

References
  1. "Kenny Rogers | Artist". Official Charts. Archived from the original on December 24, 2011. Retrieved March 28, 2014.
  2. Roland, Tom, The Billboard Book of Number One Country Hits. Billboard Books, Watson-Guptill Publications, New York, 1991 (ISBN 0-82-307553-2)
  3. Canfield, Jack; Hansen, Mark Victor; Rudder, Randy (2011). Chicken Soup for the Soul: Country Music: The Inspirational Stories Behind 101 of Your Favorite Country Songs. ISBN 9781611591903. Retrieved March 28, 2014.
  4. "Larry Gatlin Podcast". adamcarolla.com. July 24, 2016. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
  5. "BILLY EDD WHEELER". www.spencerleigh.co.uk. May 2013. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
  6. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 256. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  7. "Kenny Rogers – Coward of the County" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  8. "Kenny Rogers – Coward of the County" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  9. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 13, 1980" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  10. "Kenny Rogers – Coward of the County" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  11. "Kenny Rogers – Coward of the County". Top 40 Singles.
  12. "Kenny Rogers – Coward of the County". Swiss Singles Chart.
  13. "SA Charts 1965–March 1989". Retrieved September 5, 2018.
  14. Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  15. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 377. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  16. "Kenny Rogers Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  17. "Kenny Rogers Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
  18. "Kenny Rogers Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  19. "Offiziellecharts.de – Kenny Rogers – Coward of the County" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  20. "National Top 100 Singles for 1980". Kent Music Report. January 5, 1981. Retrieved January 17, 2022 – via Imgur.
  21. "Jaaroverzichten 1980". Ultratop. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  22. "Top 100 Singles (1980)". RPM. Archived from the original on April 25, 2016. Retrieved July 21, 2017.
  23. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1980". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  24. "Top Selling Singles of 1980 | The Official New Zealand Music Chart".
  25. "Chart File". Record Mirror. London, England: Spotlight Publications. March 21, 1981. p. 37.
  26. Musicoutfitters.com
  27. "Best of 1980: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 1980.
  28. "Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 27, 1980". Archived from the original on September 28, 2018. Retrieved February 3, 2019.
  29. "Canadian single certifications – Kenny Rogers – Coward of the Country". Music Canada. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  30. "British single certifications – Kenny Rogers – Coward of the County". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  31. "American single certifications – Kenny Rogers – Coward of the County". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  32. Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Coward of the Country - Sister Nancy". YouTube.
  33. "Coward of the County (TV Movie 1981) - IMDb".
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