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 Walkerβs 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 Clarkβs 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 Clarkβs "New Cut Road". That same year, bluegrass leader Ricky Skaggs hit No. 1 with Clarkβs "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 βThe Carpenterβ rode into the Top Ten in 1987.
Steve Wariner took his cover of Clark's "Baby Iβm Yours" to No. 1 in 1988; Asleep at the Wheel charted with Clark's "Blowinβ Like a Bandit" the same year. Crowell was Clarkβs co-writer on "Sheβs Crazy for Leavinβ", which in 1989 became the third of five straight #l hits for Crowell. Brad Paisley and Alan Jackson cover Clarkβs "Out in the Parkin' Lot," co-written with Darrell Scott, on Paisley's Time Well Wasted CD. Jimmy Buffett has covered Clarkβs "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.
Stuff That Works
Guy Clark Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And it suits me just fine
I like the way it feels
So I wear it all the time
I got an old guitar
It won't ever stay in tune
I like the way it sounds
In a dark and empty room
I got an ol' pair of boots
And they fit just right
I can work all day
And I can dance all night
I got an ol' used car
And it runs just like a top
I get the feelin' it ain't
Ever gonna stop
[Chorus]
Stuff that works, stuff that holds up
The kind of stuff you don' hang on the wall
Stuff that' real, stuff you feel
The kind of stuff you reach for when you fall
I got a pretty good friend
Who' seen me at my worst
He can' tell if I'm a blessing
Or a curse
But he always shows up
When the chips are down
That' the kind of stuff
I like to be around
[Chorus]
I got a woman I love
She's crazy and paints like God
She's got a playground sense of justice
She won' take odds
I got a tattoo with her name
Right through my soul
I think everything she touches
Turns to gold
Guy Clark's song Stuff That Works is a celebration of the things that are important and meaningful in our lives. The singer starts with simple possessions - an old blue shirt, an out-of-tune guitar, a pair of boots, and a used car- all of which have sentimental value because of their practicality, comfort, and reliability. These physical objects hold sentimental value and contribute to the memories that the singer cherishes. The chorus reflects a deep desire for stability and familiarity, and the singer talks about the things that work and hold up, the type of things that we don't hang on the wall. The song is a beautiful medley of simplicity, honesty, and reliability, which serves as a reminder that sometimes it's the little things that matter most in life.
The next verse speaks about a good friend who has been with the singer through thick and thin. This friendship provides a sense of belonging that the singer relies on. Despite the ups and downs of life, the friend's reliability is comforting, and the singer wants to be around people like that. Lastly, Guy Clark talks about the woman he loves who is an artist, and he has a tattoo of her name right through his soul. He believes that everything she touches turns to gold. This gesture is a statement of Guy Clark's love and commitment to his partner, and he is open about his admiration for her artistry. The song is a celebration of the people and things that make life worth living, regardless of their age, material worth, or appearance.
Line by Line Meaning
I got an ol' blue shirt
I have an old blue shirt
And it suits me just fine
I like the fit of the shirt
I like the way it feels
I enjoy how the shirt feels on me
So I wear it all the time
I wear the shirt frequently
I got an old guitar
I own an old guitar
It won't ever stay in tune
The guitar has trouble staying in tune
I like the way it sounds
I enjoy the sound it produces
In a dark and empty room
Especially in quiet spaces
I got an ol' pair of boots
I own a pair of old boots
And they fit just right
They fit my feet well
I can work all day
I can wear the boots for long hours without discomfort
And I can dance
They are comfortable for dancing too
I got an ol' used car
I have an old car that I bought used
And it runs just like a top
The car runs really well
I get the feelin' it ain't
I have a hunch that the car will
Ever gonna stop
Not break down anytime soon
[Chorus] Stuff that works, stuff that holds up
Things that perform well over time
The kind of stuff you don't hang on the wall
Not for display or decoration
Stuff that's real, stuff you feel
Genuine things that evoke emotions
The kind of stuff you reach for when you fall
Things you go to for comfort and support in difficult times
I got a pretty good friend
I have a close friend
Who's seen me at my worst
My friend has witnessed my lowest moments
He can't tell if I'm a blessing or a curse
My friend is unsure if I bring good or bad luck
But he always shows up
Regardless of how he feels
When the chips are down
When I'm facing difficulties
That's the kind of stuff
This is what I appreciate about my friend
I like to be around
This is the type of people that I like to spend time with
[Chorus] Stuff that works, stuff that holds up
Things that perform well over time
The kind of stuff you don't hang on the wall
Not for display or decoration
Stuff that's real, stuff you feel
Genuine things that evoke emotions
The kind of stuff you reach for when you fall
Things you go to for comfort and support in difficult times
I got a woman I love
I have a woman in my life whom I love
She's crazy and paints like God
She has an eccentric personality, and is also a talented artist
She's got a playground sense of justice
She has a fair and unbiased sense of justice, similar to how children play fairly in a playground
She won't take odds
She doesn't gamble or take any unnecessary risks
I got a tattoo with her name
I have her name tattooed on my body
Right through my soul
Expressing how deeply she affects me
I think everything she touches
I believe that she has a positive influence on everything she is involved in
Turns to gold
Transforms into something valuable and successful
Lyrics Β© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: GUY CLARK, RODNEY J CROWELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
MyRyTyM
Thank You β¨Iβm Sharing This With A Friend β¨π€β¨
Stuff That Works
I got an old blue shirt and it suits me just fine
I like the way it feels so I wear it all the time
I got an old guitar, won't ever stay in tune
I like the way it sounds in a dark and empty room
I got an old pair of boots and they fit just right
Well I can work all day and I can dance all night
I got an old used car and it runs just like a top
I get the feelin' it ain't ever gonna stop
Stuff that works, stuff that holds up
The kind of stuff you don't hang on the wall
Stuff that's real, stuff you feel
The kind of stuff you reach for when you fall
I got a pretty good friend who's seen me at my worst
He can't tell if I'm a blessing or a curse
But he always shows up when chips are down
That's the kind of stuff I like to be around
Stuff that works, stuff that holds up
The kind of stuff you don't hang on the wall
Stuff that's real, stuff you feel
The kind of stuff you reach for when you fall
I got a woman I love, she's crazy, paints like God
She's got a playground sense of justice, she won't take odds
I got a tattoo with her name right through my soul
I think everything she touches turns to gold
Stuff that works, stuff that holds up
The kind of stuff you don't hang on the wall
Stuff that's real, stuff you feel
The kind of stuff you reach for when you fall
Stuff that works, stuff that holds up
The kind of stuff you don't hang on the wall
Stuff that's real, stuff you feel
The kind of stuff you reach for when you fall
Jennie Hamilton
We all need "stuff that works". Miss you Guy! Thanks for all the music!
D T
Christ is what is real.
Alex Kimsey
"I've got a tattoo with her name right through my soul." Goosebumps every single time.
gabriel pech
Theres a good songwriter in MΓ©xico called Joan Sebastian and he wrote something similar. Tatuajes de tus besos llevo en todo mi cuerpo
kolonel Franz
You're damn right! I've got a tattoo on my arm with the names of my wife and daughter who died when we only were 24. But it's a tattoo that goes way deeper than my skin..
Pat Dean
For real!!! So intense how his music is so clear about life wow!!!
Dennis Pope
There are songs written that makes you tap your foot, then there is this song that makes you shake your head. Thank you Guy, for all of them!
Thomas B
I was 35 years old my first day of Law School. This song played the whole way there. When I graduated from law school in Houston, I was driving home, this song was on.
Not Insidious
π·β£οΈπ·
Braydon Peterson
This is indeed stuff that holds up.