The Year That Clayton Delaney Died
Tom T. Hall
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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
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Written by: TOM T. HALL
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
10 facts about this song
Song Origin"The Year That Clayton Delaney Died" is a song by American country music artist Tom T. Hall. It was released in June 1971 as the lead single from his album, "In Search of a Song."
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Song PerformanceThe song was a huge hit. It reached number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles on September 11, 1971, and stayed there for two weeks.
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Song InspirationThe song was inspired by a real-life acquaintance of Hall's named Lonnie Easterly, who taught Hall how to play the guitar when he was a child. Easterly's death profoundly affected Hall, leading him to write "The Year That Clayton Delaney Died."
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Award Nomination"The Year That Clayton Delaney Died" was nominated for a Grammy award in 1972, for Best Country Song.
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Songwriting StyleThe song is a great example of Hall's storytelling songwriting style, which often includes specific, personal details about his own life and the people he's known.
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Song Theme"The Year That Clayton Delaney Died" is a tribute to a mentor and an expression of the pain of loss, common themes in country music of the 1970s.
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Song LegacyIn 1973, "The Year That Clayton Delaney Died" was covered by Johnny Cash on his album, "Any Old Wind That Blows", further cementing its legacy as a classic of the country genre.
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Chart PerformanceBesides leading the Billboard Hot Country Singles, the song also reached number 42 on the Easy Listening chart, making it a cross-genre success.
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Song's NarrativeA distinctive feature of the song is its first-person narrative, which allowed Hall to express his feelings more directly and honestly, part of what has made the song so enduring.
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Impact on Career"The Year That Clayton Delaney Died" solidified Hall’s status as one of country music’s top songwriters. It also established his signature storytelling style, featuring poignant and personal lyrics, which became an enduring aspect of his legacy.
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Citation
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