Original Gino Washington version
1962 version:
There come those girls, get away there, I'm losing my cool, did you lose your mind?
(Gino is a coward)
(Gino is a coward)
(Gino is a coward)
(Gino is a coward)
I got one muscle made of iron
One muscle made of steel
I never been afraid in my life
Of any man that lived
But I'm a coward
Yes I'm a coward when it comes to love
(Gino is a coward) Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
(Gino is a coward) Yeah
I spent a whole year in the jungle
Hunting down wild game
I captured a gorilla barehanded
And beat him until he was tamed
But I'm a coward
Yes I'm a coward when it comes to love
(Gino is a coward)
(Gino is a coward)
(Wa wa wa wa)
Just the thought of it, just one little kiss
Make me shiver and shake
Oh girl get near to me and appear in me
Rocks, roll, shimmy, the shake
I won a medal for bravery
Fought in three hard wars
And just for the trill and pleasure
I rode the back of a dinosaur
But I'm a coward
Yes I'm a coward when it comes to love
(Gino is a coward)
(Gino is a coward) Oh tell me, tell me, tell me baby
(Tell me, tell me baby) What was that thing you call love
(That thing you call love) You got me shaken up
(Gino is a coward)
(Gino is a coward) What was that thing you call love
(Gino is a coward)
(Gino is a coward)
[Fades out]
1964 version:
Ahhh ha ha
I got one muscle made of iron
One muscle made of steel
I never been afraid in my life
Of any man that lived
But I'm a coward
Yes I'm a coward when it comes to love
Yeah yeah yeah!
I spent a whole year in the jungle
Hunting wild game
I captured a gorilla barehanded
And beat him until he was tamed
But I'm a coward
Yes I'm a coward when it comes to love
Yeah yeah yeah!
Just the thought of it, just one little kiss
Make me shiver and shake
Oh girl get near to me and appear in me
Rocks, roll, shimmy, the shake
Whoa yeah!
I won a medal for bravery
Fought in three hard wars
And just for the trill and pleasure
I rode the back of a dinosaur
But I'm a coward
Yes I'm a coward when it comes to love
Oh tell me, tell me, tell me baby
What was that thing you call love
(Gino is a coward) You got me shaken up
(Gino is a coward)
(Gino is a coward) Yeah yeah yeah
[Fades out]
I'M A COWARD is a song written by Ronald Davis and originally released by Gino Washington as a single in 1962 on the Detroit-based Correc-Tone label. He rerecorded the song and re-released it in 1964 on the SonBert label (a subsidiary of Correc-Tone). The 1964 version was retitled "Gino Is A Coward" and features a new arrangement that's a bit faster and lacking the horn section. Soon after the 1964 version was released nationally by the Ric-Tic label. The above lyrics are for the original Gino Washington versions of I'M A COWARD as released in 1962 and 1964.
For his version, Bruce Springsteen changed most of the lyrics to Gino Washington's I'M A COWARD and completely rearranged the song. He performed it live throughout the Tunnel Of Love Express Tour in 1988. See the live 25 Feb 1988 version for more details.
Thanks Paul Cain for the lyrics corrections.
The above lyrics may not be 100% complete or correct. If you can help, please contact me via the below form or by email: .
List of available versions of I'M A COWARD on this website:
I'M A COWARD [Live 25 Feb 1988 version]
