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 and 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 Tenn-o-see.

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 better put that old guitar away.
There ain't no money in it, it'll 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 gonna carry on somehow.
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.
Well, I know there's a lotta big preachers that know a lot more than I do,
But it could be that the good Lord likes a little pickin' too.

Yeah, I remember the year that Clayton Delaney died.