STORY BEHIND THE SONG
I LOVE country music, particularly Kenny Rogers. My favourites are Coward Of The County and The Gambler. What can you tell me about them? – J.
Nashville songwriter Don Schlitz was just 23 when he wrote The Gambler in 1976.
However, he couldn’t find anyone willing to put their name to it for a couple of years.
Bobby Bare and Johnny Cash eventually took the plunge but it was Rogers’ definitive version which catapulted it to the top of the US country charts in 1978.
Coward Of The County tells the story of a troubled youngster who heeds his father’s advice to stay out of trouble before, when pushed, finally deciding that “sometimes you gotta fight when you’re a man”.
One of the standout tracks on the hit album, Kenny, it became the Texan’s second UK No 1 in February, 1980.
Alvin and the Chipmunks covered the song for their 1981 LP Urban Chipmunk.