First ran in Sunday, July 4, 2021 editions of Louisiana’s Gannett newspapers

Happy Fourth of July to you and to one of our favorite bluesmen, Delbert McClinton, who recently announced his retirement from singing and playing and romanticizing honky tonks, Cajuns, and the rockin’ harmonica.

If you don’t know Delbert, it might be too late to catch up. Don’t know if he’s an acquired taste or not but I’ve always loved him since the first time I heard Emmylou Harris sing “Two More Bottles of Wine,” written by Delbert. Hard to believe he just turned 80. To me he’s an eternal 43 and singing in a blues bar where everybody is smoking Pall Mall unfiltered or Larks and trying to drink Pabst, although it’s beyond me how they can.

Born in Lubbock, Texas and raised in Fort Worth, he recently announced that because of the pandemic and because he’s 80 and because he’s done more than he could have ever dreamed with his guitar and harmonica and piano and vocal cords, he’s hanging it up—although he’s got a cruise ship gig planned in a couple of years. Won’t be seeing that since I stay away from cruise ships like I try to stay away from poison ivy and Brussels sprouts. To each his own.

So in honor of his retirement and 63-years-plus career, here are The Top 10 Delbert Songs According to Me, and “Givin’ it Up for Your Love” doesn’t make the list, even though it’s his highest charting song but, meh, we can take it or leave it in this bureau; his other stuff’s just too good.

10—Goin’ Back to Louisiana — “She used to live in Shreveport, but then she moved, bet you 10 to 1 she’s gone to Baton Rouge. I’m gonna look her up, if you know what I mean, if I have to go as far as New Orleans…”

9—Honky Tonkin’ — “… I’ve been in lots of battles that weren’t even worth being won. Honky tonkin’, I guess I done me some…”

8—The Jealous Kind — This is a rare co-dependent Delbert tune.

7—Morgan City Blues — “Realizin’ I was ’bout to be, a witness to murder in the first degree, I jumped up and found my hat but couldn’t find my head…”

6—Livin’ It Down —

“I had the wind in my sails and she took it. I had the world by the tail and she shook it. I reached out for a lifeline and she threw me a noose
I got the short end of the chicken and
She got the golden goose…”

5—Victim of Life’s Circumstances — “… I was raised around barrooms and Friday night dances. Singin’ them old country songs, half the time ending up some place I don’t belong…”

4—Every Time I Roll the Dice — “She’s like rolling a seven, every time I roll the dice…”

3—Squeeze Me In— “Whoever said it’s a man’s world don’t know what he’s talkin’ about, You got me workin’ around the clock, honey tryin’ to figure you out…”

2—Maybe Someday Baby — “Been a long time honey and I’m gone still, I think about you some I guess I always will, Someday baby, Someday maybe, Maybe someday baby…”

1—Two More Bottles of Wine if Emmylou is performing it. If Delbert’s singing, it’s Solid-Gold-Plated Fool — “Walkin’ to work here lately, so baby you can drive my car, Holding back just enough change from my check for a Coke and a candy bar…”

I left out “When Rita Leaves (Rita’s Gone),” which is clever when you think about it. Great song. She left him a lipstick letter on the mirror and took everything that was hers except the red dress that was his favorite. Rita was tough. Anyway, like Rita, we’re gone too. Cue the fireworks. Happy Fourth!

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