Classic Country Lyrics: "The Year That Clayton Delaney Died" von Tom T. Hall

Tom T. Hall war immer dann am besten, wenn er
in seinen Songs Geschichten aus seinem eigenen
Leben erzählte, so wie in diesem, in dem er nur
den Namen des Hauptprotagonisten verändert hat.
Der Song wurde sogar gecovert (durch Bobby
Bare sogar mit Erfolg), doch Tom T. Hall- Songs
sind eigentlich nur im Original das Wahre.

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 under-
stand
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