The Year Clayton Delaney Died Songtext
von Bobby Bare

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


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 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
While I know there's a lot of 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