Guy Clark, 1941-2016
May 17, 2016 9:10 AM Subscribe
Guy Clark, 1941-2016. (Houston Chronicle Obituary). One of the most admired songwriters of his generation, a giant of Texas music, a master luthier, a beloved friend to and deep influence on many other musicians, and the loving husband of the gifted Susanna Clark. (See them interviewed together in 2004.)
Rolling Stone's obituary.
2014 Texas Monthly profile.
To get the remembrance started, "L.A. Freeway," live from Austin, 2008.
Rolling Stone's obituary.
2014 Texas Monthly profile.
To get the remembrance started, "L.A. Freeway," live from Austin, 2008.
This one really hurt. His songs have been part of my life for so long.
posted by maurice at 9:18 AM on May 17, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by maurice at 9:18 AM on May 17, 2016 [1 favorite]
Well, shit. He was a T-shirt client for a few years & from everything I could tell, and all-around nice guy. His guitars, which were quite lovely, were always prominent in his T-shirt designs. One of the nicest prints we ever got to do was a close-up on the strings & ornate sound hole of one of his hand-made guitars.
posted by Devils Rancher at 9:18 AM on May 17, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Devils Rancher at 9:18 AM on May 17, 2016 [2 favorites]
I met him only once, and he was indeed incredibly nice to a starstruck fan. As a fellow songwriter, I was and remain in awe of his craft and his authenticity.
Willie and Lucinda, dammit, will you both please live forever. We've lost Cash and Haggard and Townes and now Guy Clark.
Fuck 2016.
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posted by spitbull at 9:22 AM on May 17, 2016 [4 favorites]
Willie and Lucinda, dammit, will you both please live forever. We've lost Cash and Haggard and Townes and now Guy Clark.
Fuck 2016.
.
posted by spitbull at 9:22 AM on May 17, 2016 [4 favorites]
When I die, don't bury me
In a box in a cemetery
Out in the garden would be much better
And I could be pushin' up homegrown tomatoes
This year keeps sucking.
posted by Killick at 9:22 AM on May 17, 2016 [10 favorites]
In a box in a cemetery
Out in the garden would be much better
And I could be pushin' up homegrown tomatoes
This year keeps sucking.
posted by Killick at 9:22 AM on May 17, 2016 [10 favorites]
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posted by roll truck roll at 9:23 AM on May 17, 2016
posted by roll truck roll at 9:23 AM on May 17, 2016
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posted by jim in austin at 9:23 AM on May 17, 2016
posted by jim in austin at 9:23 AM on May 17, 2016
Well, dammit.
posted by MonkeyToes at 9:25 AM on May 17, 2016
posted by MonkeyToes at 9:25 AM on May 17, 2016
Dublin Blues
RIP, Guy, and thank you.
posted by come_back_breathing at 9:28 AM on May 17, 2016 [2 favorites]
RIP, Guy, and thank you.
posted by come_back_breathing at 9:28 AM on May 17, 2016 [2 favorites]
I love to see the neon
Dancin' om the gravel
I love to hear the pick-up trucks
Come unraveled...
"Out In The Parking Lot"
posted by MonkeyToes at 9:35 AM on May 17, 2016 [1 favorite]
Dancin' om the gravel
I love to hear the pick-up trucks
Come unraveled...
"Out In The Parking Lot"
posted by MonkeyToes at 9:35 AM on May 17, 2016 [1 favorite]
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posted by soundguy99 at 9:36 AM on May 17, 2016
posted by soundguy99 at 9:36 AM on May 17, 2016
So many wonderful songs, but I especially loved this from his most recent record.
posted by sallybrown at 9:36 AM on May 17, 2016 [6 favorites]
My favorite picture of you.
Is the one where it hasn't rained yet.
Oh and as I recall,
There came a winter squall
And we got soaking wet
A thousand words in the blink of an eye
The camera loves you
and so do I
click
posted by sallybrown at 9:36 AM on May 17, 2016 [6 favorites]
Seconding sallybrown's recommendation: heartbreaking.
posted by MonkeyToes at 9:41 AM on May 17, 2016
posted by MonkeyToes at 9:41 AM on May 17, 2016
Oh, fuck.
Ain't no money in poetry
That's what sets a poet free
And I've had all the freedom
I can stand...
Cold dog soup and rainbow pie all around. RIP, Guy Clark.
posted by jonmc at 9:49 AM on May 17, 2016 [1 favorite]
Ain't no money in poetry
That's what sets a poet free
And I've had all the freedom
I can stand...
Cold dog soup and rainbow pie all around. RIP, Guy Clark.
posted by jonmc at 9:49 AM on May 17, 2016 [1 favorite]
Oh no, what a loss. He was a tremendous songwriter.
posted by aka burlap at 9:49 AM on May 17, 2016
posted by aka burlap at 9:49 AM on May 17, 2016
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posted by not_the_water at 9:53 AM on May 17, 2016
posted by not_the_water at 9:53 AM on May 17, 2016
If anyone missed it, Heartworn Highways was recently re-released and is worth watching if one is a fan of Guy Clark and company.
I'll just leave Silent Night at Guy's house here.
posted by Candleman at 10:00 AM on May 17, 2016 [3 favorites]
I'll just leave Silent Night at Guy's house here.
posted by Candleman at 10:00 AM on May 17, 2016 [3 favorites]
The world lost one of it's greatest singer-songwriters today. Though Guy Clark won't ever be talked about in the same way as Willie, Cash or his friend Townes Van Zandt, he absolute deserves to be.
Heartworn Highways changed my life and a huge part of that was Guy Clark. Can't recommend that movie enough.
Today seems really sad but in a beautiful and contemplative way, and that seems just right.
posted by saul wright at 10:42 AM on May 17, 2016 [3 favorites]
Heartworn Highways changed my life and a huge part of that was Guy Clark. Can't recommend that movie enough.
Today seems really sad but in a beautiful and contemplative way, and that seems just right.
posted by saul wright at 10:42 AM on May 17, 2016 [3 favorites]
I think that ACL clip of LA Freeway was from 1990, not 2008. I saw Guy in 2008 and he did not look anywhere near that good.
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posted by bgribble at 10:43 AM on May 17, 2016 [1 favorite]
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posted by bgribble at 10:43 AM on May 17, 2016 [1 favorite]
I grew up on Guy Clark. When I moved from Texas to Nebraska in 2000, he kept me connected to home. He's been there with me for all my life and it's a real shame to see that he's gone.
The day before he died, I went to see him
I was grown, and he was almost gone
So we just closed our eyes and dreamed of supper kitchens
And sang another verse to that old song
Like desperados waiting for a train
Like desperados waiting for a train
.
posted by holmesian at 10:44 AM on May 17, 2016 [3 favorites]
The day before he died, I went to see him
I was grown, and he was almost gone
So we just closed our eyes and dreamed of supper kitchens
And sang another verse to that old song
Like desperados waiting for a train
Like desperados waiting for a train
.
posted by holmesian at 10:44 AM on May 17, 2016 [3 favorites]
Guy is one of my favorite musicians of all time. I found myself passing through Nashville in 2004 (I was there for a single day) and ran into him randomly while waiting in line in a store. I had to ask him if he was, indeed, Guy Clark - somehow he looked more like himself than I expected, if that makes any sense.
For some reason, I didn't get starstruck. I told him that Old No. 1 came out the year I was born, and that my dad was a fan - and as such I have been listening to his music for literally my entire life. I thanked him for making it. He thanked me for listening. And that was it. I'm still happy I got to thank him. RIP Guy, thanks for leaving us with so much.
posted by enkd at 10:46 AM on May 17, 2016 [4 favorites]
For some reason, I didn't get starstruck. I told him that Old No. 1 came out the year I was born, and that my dad was a fan - and as such I have been listening to his music for literally my entire life. I thanked him for making it. He thanked me for listening. And that was it. I'm still happy I got to thank him. RIP Guy, thanks for leaving us with so much.
posted by enkd at 10:46 AM on May 17, 2016 [4 favorites]
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Saw Guy Clark perform with Lyle Lovett, Joe Ely and John Hiatt, one of the best nights of music of my life.
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posted by Cosine at 10:47 AM on May 17, 2016 [3 favorites]
Saw Guy Clark perform with Lyle Lovett, Joe Ely and John Hiatt, one of the best nights of music of my life.
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posted by Cosine at 10:47 AM on May 17, 2016 [3 favorites]
He's back with Susanna. And Townes.
*raises glass*
posted by notsnot at 10:57 AM on May 17, 2016 [4 favorites]
*raises glass*
posted by notsnot at 10:57 AM on May 17, 2016 [4 favorites]
Damn. I'm in Austin. This one hurts.
posted by Annika Cicada at 11:38 AM on May 17, 2016
posted by Annika Cicada at 11:38 AM on May 17, 2016
RIP Guy Clark, Who Was There for Me When My Father Slipped Away
Charles Pierce's remembrance, with some musical links.
posted by TedW at 11:38 AM on May 17, 2016 [3 favorites]
Charles Pierce's remembrance, with some musical links.
posted by TedW at 11:38 AM on May 17, 2016 [3 favorites]
I hope he made it off that LA Freeway.
posted by maxsparber at 12:16 PM on May 17, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by maxsparber at 12:16 PM on May 17, 2016 [1 favorite]
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posted by AugustWest at 12:33 PM on May 17, 2016
posted by AugustWest at 12:33 PM on May 17, 2016
One of my inspirations for picking up the guitar.
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posted by Miko at 12:43 PM on May 17, 2016 [4 favorites]
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posted by Miko at 12:43 PM on May 17, 2016 [4 favorites]
The emotional richness he brought to his music can't be beat. What a talent.
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posted by mixedmetaphors at 2:55 PM on May 17, 2016
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posted by mixedmetaphors at 2:55 PM on May 17, 2016
I think we spend a lot of time connecting music to big R romantic ideal--connecting it to biogrphy or feeling, or to a kind of explicit catharsis. I think that this is especially true for country--who for all the talk of craft, often under rates, or is nervous about work that could be seen as clever. I never want to under estimate Clark's ability to feel--he is a great writer on ambiivalent feelings, but also on simple pleasures. But this was never enough for me. I think that he is one of the great writers of American (and uinquely American) narrative fiction. He is a story teller of the West--as much as Sam Shepherd or Annie Prolux or Louise Edrich is. When I listen to Clark, it is less about how I feel about Clark, and more about being seriously impressed by a skill at cohesion, and detail. This is not intended s a back handed compliment. He is one of my favourite musicians, but also one of my faouvrite writers.
posted by PinkMoose at 8:42 PM on May 17, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by PinkMoose at 8:42 PM on May 17, 2016 [2 favorites]
A great songwriter and an even greater man. Had the chance to see him and talk with him in both London and Sydney. A real, natural, sweet man. One of my favorites is Magnolia Wind.
RIP, Guy. I'm sure Susanna and Townes have a chair for you – pick up your guitar and entertain those wildcats in heaven.
posted by lometogo at 5:36 AM on May 18, 2016 [1 favorite]
RIP, Guy. I'm sure Susanna and Townes have a chair for you – pick up your guitar and entertain those wildcats in heaven.
posted by lometogo at 5:36 AM on May 18, 2016 [1 favorite]
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Sad news. For some reason I can’t figure out, I’d never heard of Clark until about a dozen years ago, when a friend was cleaning house and gave me a 21-song CD – titled Guy Clark Collection, Yule 2000 – some friend or relative had made him as a gift.
Such brilliant songs: Stuff That Works, The Cape, Tryin’ to Try, Hangin’ Your Life on the Wall, To Live Is to Fly, Watermelon Dreams, Rita Ballou, Randall Knife, Fools for Each Other, and on and on...
posted by LeLiLo at 7:43 PM on May 18, 2016
Sad news. For some reason I can’t figure out, I’d never heard of Clark until about a dozen years ago, when a friend was cleaning house and gave me a 21-song CD – titled Guy Clark Collection, Yule 2000 – some friend or relative had made him as a gift.
Such brilliant songs: Stuff That Works, The Cape, Tryin’ to Try, Hangin’ Your Life on the Wall, To Live Is to Fly, Watermelon Dreams, Rita Ballou, Randall Knife, Fools for Each Other, and on and on...
posted by LeLiLo at 7:43 PM on May 18, 2016
I like to sing while driving, and I am so very grateful to Guy Clark's songs for their invitation to harmonize. It seems to me of a piece with the way that he facilitated the careers of so many others. That's a generosity that I will sorely miss. Thanks, Guy.
posted by MonkeyToes at 6:54 AM on May 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by MonkeyToes at 6:54 AM on May 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
I think that ACL clip of LA Freeway was from 1990, not 2008. -- bgribble
You're totally right, I just mindlessly dropped the Youtube posting date in there. As a person of a certain age I guess I wanted to deny that much time had passed and 1990 Guy Clark is exactly how I remember him since that was in fact the first year in which I saw him live at the Cactus Cafe in Austin.
posted by spitbull at 6:45 AM on May 21, 2016
You're totally right, I just mindlessly dropped the Youtube posting date in there. As a person of a certain age I guess I wanted to deny that much time had passed and 1990 Guy Clark is exactly how I remember him since that was in fact the first year in which I saw him live at the Cactus Cafe in Austin.
posted by spitbull at 6:45 AM on May 21, 2016
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posted by rdone at 9:14 AM on May 17, 2016 [1 favorite]