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 Tennessee 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 And 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 a-pickin' out the lovesick blues When Clayton died I made him a promise, I was going to 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