the last thing Guy Clark said to me was "Just hold the *%# guitar Travis"

I've had great conversations w/ Guy but the last thing he said to me was "Just hold the *%# guitar Travis" :)   It was the last time Guy played in Dallas. I think it was sometime in 2012.  Guy was having severe health problems and this evening he could hardly walk to the stage but he did, leaning heavily on a cane in one hand and holding his guitar in the other to thunderous applause.

It was a full house.  Hundreds of people.  Guy took a seat on his armless chair, strummed his guitar and promptly broke a string. 

Let’s say it didn't make him happy. Guy said "Travis hold my *&^ guitar” and he began to put the string in place. 

Several minutes went by as the crowd sat and watched.  I looked at Verlon for an idea of what to do and Verlon slightly shook his head meaning, "Don't do anything. Just sit tight" so sit tight I did.   

I just sat holding the guitar and looked at Guy's trademark bloody thumbprint inside the sound hole of his guitar while Guy worked with the string.  Some more time went by and then I very carefully asked Guy if he would like me to take his guitar back and put a string on it. "Just hold the *%# guitar Travis", came Guy's reply. 

A bit more time went by and Guy gave a deep sigh and then left to go backstage &  change the string.  

Before long he was back on stage and sat down and began his show and what a great show it was.  He forgot some of his words but when he did the crowd would call them out to him in a beautiful sing along.   

It was a great night I will never forget.

Then last week David Card held a Guy Clark memorial and it was beautiful. Pretty amazing how many people Guy touched thru his simple songs.  It was a real privilege to have Verlon  with us sharing stories and doing songs w/ everybody.  Great day.
This is a pic of the song finale "LA Freeway"  — with Verlon Thompson, me, Michael O'Neal, Shad Blair, David Card, Rickey Wright, George Ensle and Floramay Holliday Racz and the whole room singing along.

Thank you David for putting the memorial together. I think Guy would have liked it.

And Vaya Con Dios Guy Clark. 

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