Tom T. Hall - The Year That Clayton Delaney Died

The Year That Clayton Delaney Died

Tom T. Hall performs "The Year That Clayton Delaney Died"Live Video.

"The Year That Clayton Delaney Died" is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Tom T. Hall. It was released in July 1971 as the only single from the album, In Search of a Song. "The Year That Clayton Delaney Died" was Hall's second number one on the country chart. The single stayed at number one for two weeks and spent a total of eighteen weeks on the country charts.

The song is based on Hall's childhood neighbor and boyhood hero, Lonnie Easterly

Tom T. Hall The Year That Clayton Delaney Died Lyrics

Well 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

Daddy said he drank a lot but I could never understand

I knew he used to picked 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 gray

I guess if I'd admit it Clayton taught me how to drink booze

I can see him half stoned pickin` up 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 picking too

Yeah I remember the year that Clayton Delaney died