The Year That Clayton Delaney Died

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