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.
That Old Time Feeling
Guy Clark Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like an old gray cat in winter, keepin' close to the wall.
And that old time feelin' comes stumblin' up the street,
Like an old salesman kickin' the papers from his feet.
And that old time feelin' draws circles around the blok,
Like old women with no children, holdin' hands with the clock.
And that old time feelin' fall on it's face in the park,
And that old time feelin' comes and goes in the rain,
Like an old man with his checkers, dyin' to find a game.
And that old time feelin' plays for beer in bars,
Like and old blues-time picker who don't recall who you are.
And that old time feelin' limps through the night on a crutch,
Like an old soldier wonderin' if he's paid too much.
And that old time feelin' rocks and spits and cries,
Like and old lover rememberin' the girl with the clear blue eyes.
And that old time feelin' goes sneakin' down the hall,
Like an old gray cat in winter, keepin' close to the wall.
And that old time feelin' comes stumblin' up the street,
Like an old salesman kickin' the papers from his feet.
The song "That Old Time Feeling" by Guy Clark is a wistful ode to a bygone era. The lyrics describe the intangible sensation of nostalgia that creeps up on us all at some point. The old time feeling is personified as an old gray cat in winter, keeping close to the wall, and an old salesman kicking papers from his feet. It draws circles around the block like old women with no children holding hands with the clock. The feeling falls on its face in the park like an old wino praying he can make it until it's dark.
The old time feeling is unpredictable and comes and goes like the rain. It plays for beer in bars like an old blues-time picker who doesn't recall who you are. It limps through the night on a crutch like an old soldier wondering if he's paid too much. It rocks and spits and cries like an old lover remembering the girl with the clear blue eyes.
The song captures the bittersweet essence of yearning for a time gone by. It speaks to the universality of nostalgia and how the memories of the past can be both beautiful and painful.
Line by Line Meaning
And that old time feelin' goes sneakin' down the hall,
That sense of nostalgia creeps slowly through the memories, always lingering in the back of the mind like a cat sneaking through the hallway in the winter, hugging closely to the wall.
Like an old gray cat in winter, keepin' close to the wall.
The feeling is cautious and hesitant - like an old grey cat wandering through the harsh winter weather, carefully keeping close to the wall.
And that old time feelin' comes stumblin' up the street,
At times the feeling might come rushing back unexpectedly, like an old salesman who's rushing to make a sale, kicking and stumbling over papers in his haste.
Like an old salesman kickin' the papers from his feet.
The feeling can be impatient and forceful, like a salesperson who's in a hurry, hastily making his way through the streets and kicking papers in his haste.
And that old time feelin' draws circles around the block,
The feeling might linger and circle around like the older women with no children who spend their days holding hands with the clock.
Like old women with no children, holdin' hands with the clock.
The feeling is circular and repetitive, like the routine of women with no children, who spend their days endlessly absorbed by the ticking of the clock.
And that old time feelin' fall on its face in the park,
The feeling can sometimes be unpleasant, painfully vulnerable and exposed like an old wino who has passed out in a park, helplessly praying that they'll last until nightfall.
Like an old wino prayin' he can make it 'till it's dark.
The feeling can be like the desperation of an alcoholic, struggling to last through the day and find some comfort until the night comes.
And that old time feelin' comes and goes in the rain,
The feeling can be unpredictable, returning only sporadically like an old man who's struggling to find a game of checkers in the rain.
Like an old man with his checkers, dyin' to find a game.
The feeling can be restless and eager, like the anxious and frustrated man who's eager to find a worthy opponent and reduce his boredom.
And that old time feelin' plays for beer in bars,
The feeling can be simple and uncomplicated, playing out in the background of everyday life, like the old blues-time player who performs only for the sake of beer in bars.
Like an old blues-time picker who don't recall who you are.
The person might not even remember who you are, being lost in their own world of nostalgia and memories.
And that old time feelin' limps through the night on a crutch,
The feeling can be painful and difficult, like an old soldier who's struggling with their own ghosts, wondering if they've given too much.
Like an old soldier wonderin' if he's paid too much.
The person might be bound by their own history, trying to fight through the pain of the past to deal with the present.
And that old time feelin' rocks and spits and cries,
The person might be emotional and volatile, like an old lover who remembers a young love with clear blue eyes, their feelings uncontained and raw.
Like an old lover rememberin' the girl with the clear blue eyes.
The past is a vivid and emotional thing, anchored in memory and often deeply felt.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Guy Clark
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Kuroperrock
"That Old Time Feeling"
And that old time feeling goes sneakin' down the hall
Like an old gray cat in winter, keepin' close to the wall
And that old time feeling comes stumblin' up the street
Like an old salesman kickin' the papers from his feet
And that old time feeling draws circles around the block
Like old women with no children, holdin' hands with the clock
And that old time feeling falls on its face in the park
Like an old wino prayin' he can make it till it's dark
And that old time feeling comes and goes in the rain
Like an old man with his checkers, dyin' to find a game
And that old time feeling plays for beer in bars
Like an old blues-time picker who don't recall who you are
And that old time feeling limps through the night on a crutch
Like an old soldier wonderin' if he's paid too much
And that old time feeling rocks and spits and cries
Like an old lover rememberin' the girl with the clear blue eyes
And that old time feeling goes sneakin' down the hall
Like an old gray cat in winter, keepin' close to the wall...
remy A
And that old time feelin' goes sneakin' down the hall,
Like an old gray cat in winter, keepin' close to the wall.
And that old time feelin' comes stumblin' up the street,
Like an old salesman kickin' the papers from his feet.
And that old time feelin' draws circles around the blok,
Like old women with no children, holdin' hands with the clock.
And that old time feelin' fall on it's face in the park,
Like and old wino prayin' he can make it 'till it's dark.
And that old time feelin' comes and goes in the rain,
Like an old man with his checkers, dyin' to find a game.
And that old time feelin' plays for beer in bars,
Like and old blues-time picker who don't recall who you are.
And that old time feelin' limps through the night on a crutch,
Like an old soldier wonderin' if he's paid too much.
And that old time feelin' rocks and spits and cries,
Like and old lover rememberin' the girl with the clear blue eyes.
And that old time feelin' goes sneakin' down the hall,
Like an old gray cat in winter, keepin' close to the wall.
And that old time feelin' comes stumblin' up the street,
Like an old salesman kickin' the papers from his feet.
Alex Maughan
I can't believe I spent so long without country music. I'm in awe at the emotion conveyed in some of these songs.
Lazaro Grana
@L White for me thats desperados waiting for a train and a song by Steve earls son called lone pine hill
William Johnson
Check out waiting around to die by townes van Zandt. It's the next song and video on this movie
Tyson Rinker
@Isahiyella my favs
The-lonely-ous
@FOH Commies Wow! THANKS!
chris newman
This is more folk than country. True storytelling.
FrigidYeti
The “outlaw” era. Where folk music and country music were combined perfectly.
Kuroperrock
"That Old Time Feeling"
And that old time feeling goes sneakin' down the hall
Like an old gray cat in winter, keepin' close to the wall
And that old time feeling comes stumblin' up the street
Like an old salesman kickin' the papers from his feet
And that old time feeling draws circles around the block
Like old women with no children, holdin' hands with the clock
And that old time feeling falls on its face in the park
Like an old wino prayin' he can make it till it's dark
And that old time feeling comes and goes in the rain
Like an old man with his checkers, dyin' to find a game
And that old time feeling plays for beer in bars
Like an old blues-time picker who don't recall who you are
And that old time feeling limps through the night on a crutch
Like an old soldier wonderin' if he's paid too much
And that old time feeling rocks and spits and cries
Like an old lover rememberin' the girl with the clear blue eyes
And that old time feeling goes sneakin' down the hall
Like an old gray cat in winter, keepin' close to the wall...
Lazaro Grana
Wrong version
Lonesome Walker
It's not what you take when you leave this world behind you,
It's what you leave behind you when you go! R.I.P. Guy