GE 9 - Ethics

Names: ______________________________________
Course: _______________________

“Coward of the County” Song Analysis

1. What happened to Tommy and his girlfriend, Becky?

Everyone considered Tommy as a coward of the Country just because he doesn’t know how to
fight back and don’t know the right time how to stand up for himself. He has a father who died in
prison. He grew up with his uncle, he is very careful and fears to do anything he always
remembered what his father told him. He has a girlfriend name is Becky while tommy was
opening the door he saw Becky crying with torn dress she was gang raped by the Gatlin boys.
He reaches over the fireplace where he takes the picture of him and his father and as he looks
down, there is a tear running down his face. He looks closely and thinks whether upholding his
father’s last words of “walking away from trouble”, or defending Becky from the Gatlin boys.

2. Describe your own feelings after listening to the song.

Student A’s Response: Student B’s Response:

While listening to the song I felt sad and I
was crying because he doesn’t know what
to do, he just want to follow what his
father’s last words which are ‘Promise me,
son, not to do the things I’ve done Walk
away from trouble if you can Now it won’t
mean you’re weak if you turn the other
cheek I hope you’re old enough to
understand Son, you don’t have to fight to
be a man'” it shows that his dad really cares
about him and he doesn’t want him to
ended up being the same way he did in
prison because of a horrible mistake, but
because of that, people regard him as a
coward who does not fight back. Tommy is
known as the "Coward of the County" since
he does not fight and is constantly unsure
when it is appropriate for him to do so.
Imagine what he was going through when
he was crawling for 20 years, but then he
realized that you have to fight back for your
loved ones at times.

3. Describe the feelings (and the role feelings) involved in the song. Compare your responses
with your partner regarding the role of feelings in the decision made by Tommy in the song.

Student A’s Response: Student B’s Response:

Sometimes feelings can be really obstacle
in making the right decision just like in this
song Tommy wants to prove that he is a
man for Becky and forget about what his
father’s last will, I think what it his mind is
Even if everyone else thinks it's wrong, do
what you think is right and when you feel it
is right. Tommy picked his own fight to
prove he was a man to Becky, despite his
father's last words, since he felt it was the
proper thing to do. He was tired of being
stressed; Tommy kept all of his feelings
inside and never let them out. Tommy
chooses his own fight to prove his love for
Becky. "Son, you don't have to fight to be a
man," Tommy's father had stated, but
Tommy was still confused with his father's
request. Because it was for his love for
Becky. Tommy fighting the Gatlin Boys but
he is ensuring that he could protect himself
and that he wouldn't be gravely injured. In
his heart, he speaks to his father, who has
passed away “promised you, Dad, not to do
the things you've done
I walk away from trouble when I can
Now please don't think I'm weak, I didn't
turn the other cheek” This demonstrates
that he has sincerely accepted his father's
will and is determined to avoid following in
his father's footsteps.

Comparison: