Lee Clayton - Industry (Live)

 

Clayton grew up in Oak Ridge, Tennessee and began to play harmonica and guitar at the age of seven.^[3] At nine years old, he received his first steel guitar.^[5]

After serving in the Air Force he moved to Nashville in 1968 and began his career as a songwriter. In 1972 he wrote "Ladies Love Outlaws" for Waylon Jennings.^[3] In 1973 he released his first album simply titled Lee Clayton, with which, as Clayton would later say, he was very dissatisfied. In the following years he continued his songwriting. He wrote songs like "Lone Wolf" for Jerry Jeff Walker and "If You Could Touch Her at All" for Willie Nelson. In 1978 his second album, Border Affair, was released. It was critically acclaimed but became a flop at the charts.^[5]

His most successful album was 1979's Naked Child. The songs' style was reminiscent of Bob Dylan and the single, "I Ride Alone", became very notable. In 1979, he went on a big world tour, which became a huge success. In 1981 he released his fourth studio album, The Dream Goes On, which had a harder sound than his previous work.^[5] After that he published two autobiographical books and, in 1990, he released a live album entitled Another Night, which was recorded on September 9, 1988, at the Cruise Cafe, Oslo, Norway.^[3] Also in 1990, The Highwaymen, an outlaw country supergroup comprising Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson, had a minor hit with a song of his, "Silver Stallion", which had previously appeared on Border Affair (1978). In 1994, he released the album Spirit of the Twilight. Cat Power also covered "Silver Stallion" on the 2008 cover album Jukebox. In 2008 a new acoustic song "We The People" was 'released' on YouTube.

 Recorded from the 12 inch vinyl record "LEE CLAYTON - ANOTHER NIGHT" Recorded at the Cuise Cafe, Oslo, Norway on September 9, 1988

 https://youtu.be/BLPibYDW85U?si=uvPomfKmlGFHs6b0

 I grew up surrounded by fences electrified and three in a row.
With machine-gun nests at the entrances to town and plants that any minute could go.
They made the first atomic bomb 'cross the hill from where I played.
Me and the dog used to hide in the woods when the guards were checking for strays.
I remember fire engines in the night flyed out (?) and terrified.
Physicists cracking beneath the strain and their children, my friends, terrified.

Industry - that 's why.

My father worked hard for thirty-two years for a sweater, a watch and a clock,
and a heartbeat that doesn‘t push blood very well through veins as hard as a rock.
Three years away from retirement, they forced him to take a new job.
And as the hatchet-man for the company clan, he was hated and he was cursed like a dog.
But he kicked and he clawed, he cursed back and he cried - a tired man running on his pride.
He got the job done though it cost him his legs.
Thanks, Union Carbide.

Industry - father forgive industry.

My brother works now in a sparkling clean room wearing clothes he could take to Mars.
One little tear in that airtight suit and I doubt if he could get to his car.
And ain‘t it funny how all of the big boys seem always packing their bag?
And headed somewhere that the water is clear and the air, don‘t make a gag.

Industry - it makes me sick.

And well, people, we think ourselves blameless,
let's call a spade a spade,
it always takes two to tango, my friend, and we're half, half of this beautiful day.
Mankind has sold out too cheaply for her cars and her colored TVs,
but I guess the price doesn't matter too much,
when you're drug-crazed you're easy to please.

Industry, praise industry - of the people, by the people, for the people.

And yea, though we walk through the valley of the shadows, let us fear no evil - or industry.