The Son of Clayton Delaney

(Tom T. Hall)



On 4th Street in Louisville in 1978

Stranded in a honky tonk somewhere tween dates

There was a little band was playin' as I sipped my beer

But I never thought that I'd hear what I'd hear.



There was a young man a pickin' lectric guitar

Smokin' and a sniffin' learnin' how to be a star

He had a big blue bandana tied around his head

A laid back bass and a drummer named Red.



Well, his hair was cut long in the fashion of the time

Sandpaper vocal but he milked every line

His fingers like lightning on the guitar that he played

He did Lay Down Sally and Hank Didn't Do It This Way.



--- Instrumental ---



Well, I sat there and listened for over an hour

And the closest thing to country was a rockin' Wildwood Flower

And I got that feeling that I had been there before

But I knew I had never been through that door.



Well, the jukebox was turned on and the band took a break

I made my way up front to howdy and shake

I said son I like your music and I kinda like your style

But it seems to me that I have seen that smile.



While he stood there for a moment then laughed and he slapped his knee

He said you are the one man I've wanted to see

He said I know you you storytelling son of a gun

And you know me I'm Clayton Delaney's son...