John Clay Songtext
von Powell St. John

Well, he came down from Stanford, Texas
North of Abilene
A lanky kid with a banjo on his knee
With a pocket full of songs to sing
And a personal point of view
Those Austin folks had never heard nor seen

John Clay, John Clay
His songs and stories′ll never fade away
John Clay, John Clay
Folks had better listen to what you have to say

In a style that's often rough and ragged
Not too slick and smooth
This quintessential broadside balladeer
Is a man you can depend on
To tell the story true
To anyone who really wants to hear


John Clay, John Clay
His songs and stories′ll never fade away
John Clay, John Clay
Yeah, folks had better listen to what you have to say

He's told us of Rode Dominguez
The Anson Runaway
He's chronicled the stories of our day
Not out to make a lot of money
Not just to be cool
He wrote ′em like that ′cause he felt that way

John Clay, John Clay
His songs and stories'll never fade away
John Clay, John Clay
Folks had better listen to what you have to say

John Clay, John Clay
His songs and stories′ll never fade away
John Clay, John Clay
Folks had better listen to what you have to say

You know, I hope one day they'll put a statue
On the town lake shore
Bronze of John Clay standin′ eight feet tall
Frailin' on his banjo, shoutin′ out a tune
He'll be an Austin landmark ever more


John Clay, John Clay
His songs and stories'll never fade away
John Clay, John Clay
Folks had better listen to what you have to say

Yeah, folks had better listen to what you have to say