Clark was born in Monahans, Texas and eventually settled in Nashville, where he helped create the progressive country and outlaw country genres. His songs "L.A. Freeway" and "Desperados Waiting for a Train" that helped launch his career were covered by numerous performers.
He was an accomplished luthier and often played his own guitars. He achieved success as a songwriter with Jerry Jeff Walker’s recordings of "L.A. Freeway" and "Desperados Waiting For A Train". Artists such as Johnny Cash, David Allan Coe, Vince Gill, Ricky Skaggs, Steve Wariner, Brad Paisley, John Denver, Alan Jackson, Rodney Crowell, The Highwaymen, and Kenny Chesney have recorded Clark’s songs. Emmylou Harris has accompanied him on several recordings, particularly his own version of "Desperados Waiting For A Train" on his first album, Old No. 1, released in 1975. Clark is frequently referred to as "The Fifth Highwayman".
Clark has been a mentor to such other singers as Steve Earle and Rodney Crowell. He organized Earle's first job as a writer in Nashville. In the 1970s, the Clarks' home in Nashville was an open house for songwriters and musicians and it features in the documentary Heartworn Highways, an evocation of the songwriter scene in Nashville at that time. (Snapper/Catfish, 1981/2003, with Townes Van Zandt, David Allan Coe, and Steve Earle). Numerous artists have charted with Clark-penned tunes. In 1982, Bobby Bare made it to the Country Top Twenty with Clark’s "New Cut Road". That same year, bluegrass leader Ricky Skaggs hit No. 1 with Clark’s "Heartbroke", a song that permanently established his reputation as an ingenious songwriter. Among the many others who have covered Clark's songs are Vince Gill, who took "Oklahoma Borderline" to the Top Ten in 1985; The Highwaymen, who introduced "Desperados Waiting For A Train" to a new generation that same year; and John Conlee, whose interpretation of “The Carpenter” rode into the Top Ten in 1987.
Steve Wariner took his cover of Clark's "Baby I’m Yours" to No. 1 in 1988; Asleep at the Wheel charted with Clark's "Blowin’ Like a Bandit" the same year. Crowell was Clark’s co-writer on "She’s Crazy for Leavin’", which in 1989 became the third of five straight #l hits for Crowell. Brad Paisley and Alan Jackson cover Clark’s "Out in the Parkin' Lot," co-written with Darrell Scott, on Paisley's Time Well Wasted CD. Jimmy Buffett has covered Clark’s "Boats to Build" and "Cinco de Mayo in Memphis". Clark credits Townes Van Zandt as being a major influence on his songwriting. They were best friends for many years until Van Zandt's death in 1997, and since then Clark has included one of Van Zandt's compositions on most of his albums. In 1995, he recorded a live album with Van Zandt and Steve Earle, Together at the Bluebird Cafe, which was released in October 2001. Other live material can be found on his album Keepers.
In 2006 Clark released Workbench Songs. The album was nominated for "Best Contemporary Folk/Americana Album" at the Grammy Awards. He also toured with Lyle Lovett, Joe Ely, and John Hiatt in 2004, 2005 and 2007.
In May 2008, Clark canceled four concerts after breaking his leg. After two months on crutches, he began to perform again on July 4 at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington, DC where he appeared with Verlon Thompson. On June 20, 2009, Clark announced a new album entitled "Somedays the Song Writes You" which was released on September 22, 2009. It features originals along with a Townes Van Zandt song entitled "If I Needed You".
In December 2011 This One's For Him: A Tribute to Guy Clark (a two-CD set) was released by Icehouse Music.
Guy Clark won the Grammy Award for Best Folk Album in 2014 for My Favorite Picture of You.
On May 17, 2016, Clark's death was announced on his Facebook page.
Clark was married to songwriter and artist, Susanna Clark from 1972 through her death from cancer on June 27, 2012.
A Nickel for the Fiddler
Guy Clark Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well it's a nickel for the fiddler. It's a nickel for his tune.
It's a nickel for the tambourine kind of afternoon.
And it's a high holiday on the 21st of June.
And it's country music in the park and everybody's ruined.
Instrumental break
And it's freaky apple pie.
And it's the ones who came to play.
And the ones just passin' by.
And it's coats of many colors.
And it almost makes me cry.
Lord it's ice cream on a stick.
And it's somethin' you can buy.
Instrumental break
Well it's a fiddler from Kentucky,
Who swears he's 83.
And he's fiddled every contest
From here to cripple creek.
And it's old ones and it's yound ones.
And it's plain they half agreed
But it's country music in the park,
As far as they can see.
Instrumental break
In Guy Clark's song "A Nickel for the Fiddler," he describes a country music festival happening in a park on the 21st of June. The chorus repeats that it costs a nickel for the fiddler's tune, and it's a high holiday on this day. The festival has a relaxed atmosphere with dogs, kids, and people passing by, and it's freaky apple pie, and coats of many colors to wear. The music festival is for anyone who wants to come and play, whether they're old or young, and it's evident that everyone agrees that they're ruined by the end of the event.
The song's chorus at the beginning of the song represents the tradition and value of music in society, and how it is worth paying a small fee to enjoy. The festival happening on the 21st of June shows the importance of music as a part of culture and how it brings people together. Throughout the song, Guy Clark describes the carefree and joyful nature of the festival, and how everyone is just trying to have a good time, enjoy the music and each other's company.
Line by Line Meaning
Chorus
Celebrating a music festival with friends and family
Well it's a nickel for the fiddler. It's a nickel for his tune.
Show respect to the fiddler, who brings everyone the awesome tune
It's a nickel for the tambourine kind of afternoon.
Enjoy the tambourine music and alleviate oneself in this afternoon
And it's a high holiday on the 21st of June.
One of the biggest holidays of the year, June 21st marks a good occasion to celebrate life
And it's country music in the park and everybody's ruined.
Everyone indulged too much in country music and now they’re feeling wasted
Well it's fountains full of dogs and kids.
Children and dogs are attracted to running water fountains, they intermingle among themselves
And it's freaky apple pie.
Apple pie which contains unpredictable ingredients maybe a strange occurrence.
And it's the ones who came to play.
Enthusiastic people came to have fun
And the ones just passin' by.
Individuals passing by also cannot resist from stopping to have fun
And it's coats of many colors.
People wear different colored coats
And it almost makes me cry.
The emotional impact of the people's warm spirit almost brings a tear to my eye.
Lord it's ice cream on a stick.
Ice cream sold on a stick at the festival
And it's somethin' you can buy.
All the entertainment is available for purchase at the festival
Well it's a fiddler from Kentucky,
The fiddler who is playing at the festival hails from Kentucky
Who swears he's 83.
The fiddler is 83 years old and is proud of it.
And he's fiddled every contest
He has played the violin at every contest within the area
From here to cripple creek.
Even from here to the far-off Cripple Creek
And it's old ones and it's young ones.
People of all ages and generations are present at the festival
And it's plain they half agreed
They all have different tastes but still gathers for an amazing event
But it's country music in the park,
The music of choice is country, and it's played freely in the park
As far as they can see.
The music is playing to great lengths all over the festival
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GUY CLARK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind