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