The Year That Clayton Delaney Died

Tom T. Hall

About The Year That Clayton Delaney Died

"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.


Year:
2003
2:23
140 
#2

 Become A Better Singer In Only 30 Days, With Easy Video Lessons!

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

 Become A Better Singer In Only 30 Days, With Easy Video Lessons!


Tom T. Hall

Thomas "Tom T." Hall (born May 25, 1936, in Olive Hill, Kentucky) is a retired American country music singer-songwriter. He has written 11 No. 1 hit songs, with 26 more that reached the Top 10, including the No. 1 international pop crossover smash "Harper Valley PTA" and the hit "I Love", which reached No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100. He became known to fans as "The Storyteller," thanks to his storytelling skills in his songwriting. more »

5 fans

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."
Song Performance
The 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.
Song Inspiration
The 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."
Award Nomination
"The Year That Clayton Delaney Died" was nominated for a Grammy award in 1972, for Best Country Song.
Songwriting Style
The 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.
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.
Song Legacy
In 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.
Chart Performance
Besides leading the Billboard Hot Country Singles, the song also reached number 42 on the Easy Listening chart, making it a cross-genre success.
Song's Narrative
A 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.
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.

Discuss the The Year That Clayton Delaney Died Lyrics with the community:

0 Comments

    Citation

    Use the citation below to add these lyrics to your bibliography:

    Style:MLAChicagoAPA

    "The Year That Clayton Delaney Died Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 19 Apr. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/6826338/Tom+T.+Hall/The+Year+That+Clayton+Delaney+Died>.

    Missing lyrics by Tom T. Hall?

    Know any other songs by Tom T. Hall? Don't keep it to yourself!

    Watch the song video

    The Year That Clayton Delaney Died

    7,235
    156     7

    Top Hot 100 Songs 1971

    Billboard #42


    Browse Lyrics.com

    Quiz

    Are you a music master?

    »
    "Take my photo off the wall if it just won't sing for you."
    A Filter - Take a Picture
    B Jet - Look What You've Done
    C Berlin - Take My Breath Away
    D Alan Walker - Sing Me to Sleep

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Chrome

    Get instant explanation for any lyrics that hits you anywhere on the web!

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Firefox

    Get instant explanation for any acronym or abbreviation that hits you anywhere on the web!

    Tom T. Hall tracks

    On Radio Right Now

    Loading...

    Powered by OnRad.io


    Think you know music? Test your MusicIQ here!