Tom T. Hall – The Year That Clayton Delaney Died, is a song written and recorded by 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.
The Year That Clayton Delaney Died
From the album In Search of a Song
B-side “Second Handed Flowers”
Released July 5, 1971
Recorded March 26, 1971
Genre Country
Length 2:42
Label Mercury 73221
Songwriter(s) Tom T. Hall
Producer(s) Jerry Kennedy
Tom T. Hall – The Year That Clayton Delaney Died
[Verse:]
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 grave
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
GENIUS
