The Year That Clayton Delaney Died

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 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
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