The Year That Clayton Delaney Died
By Tom T. Hall
8/28/2002
Capo 1
C G C C7
I remember the year that Clayton Delaney died
F C
They said for the last two weeks that he suffered and cried
F C
It made a big impression on me, although I was a barefoot kid
G C
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-ssee
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 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
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
