The Year That Clayton Delaney Died

(Tom T. Hall)



I remember the year that Clayton Delaney died

They said for the last two weeks that he suffered and cried

It made a big impression on me, although I was a barefoot kid

They said he got religion at the end and I'm glad that he did.



Clayton was the best guitar picker in our town

I thought he was a hero, I used to follow Clayton around

I often wondered why Clayton who seemed so good to me

Never took his guitar and made it down in Tennessee.



Well daddy said, he drank a lot but I could never understand

I knew he used to pick up in Ohio with a five piece band

Clayton used to tell me "Son, you'd better put that ol' guitar away

There ain't no money in it, it will lead you to an early grave."



I guess if I'd admit it Clayton taught me how to drink booze

I can see him half stoned a-pickin' out the Lovesick Blues

When Clayton died I made him a promise, I was going to carry on some how

I'd give a hundred dollars if he could only see me now.



I remember the year that Clayton Delaney died

Nobody ever knew it but I went out in the woods and I cried

While I know there's a lot of big preachers

That know a lot more than I do

It could be that the good Lord

Likes a little pickin' too.



Yeah, I remember the year that Clayton Delaney died...