[Verse 1]
G D7 G G7
I remember the year that Clayton Delaney died
C G G7
They said for the last two weeks that he suffered and cried
C G
It made a big impression on me although I was a barefoot kid
D7 G
They said he got religion at the end and I'm glad that he did
[Verse 2]
G D7 G G7
Clayton was the best guitar picker in our town
C G G7
I thought he was a hero and I used to follow Clayton around
C G
I often wondered why Clayton who seemed so good to me
D7 G
Never took his guitar and made it down in Tennessee
[Verse 3]
G D7 G G7
Well daddy said he drank a lot but I could never understand
C G G7
I knew he used to picked up in Ohio with a five piece band
C G
Clayton used to tell me son you better put that old guitar away
D7 G
Ain't no money in it it'll lead you to an early grave
[Verse 4]
G D7 G G7
I guess if I'd admit it Clayton taught me how to drink booze
C G G7
I can see him half stoned a picking out the Lovesick Blues
C G
When Clayton died I made him a promise I was gonna carry on somehow
D7 G
I'd give a hundred dollars if he could only see me now
[Verse 5]
G D7 G G7
I remember the year that Clayton Delaney died
C G G7
Nobody ever knew it but I went out in the woods and I cried
C G
Well I know there's a lotta big preachers that know a lot more than I do
D7 G
But it could be that the good Lord likes a little picking too
D7 G
Yeah I remember the year that Clayton Delaney died