Guy Clark – My Favorite Picture of You

Guy Clark and Townes Van Zandt were known as the godfathers of the Texas songwriters by some. This song can be tough to listen to but also beautiful simultaneously.

This song is very touching. It was about his late wife Susanna Clark. She passed away in 2012 and it was the title song of his last album released in 2013.  It peaked at #12 on the Billboard Country Charts and #62 on the Billboard Album Charts in 2013.

It was based on a real Polaroid picture Guy Clark had of his wife standing outside of a house. Inside the house, Guy and Townes Van Zandt were “drunk on their ass” and obnoxious and she wasn’t happy and wanted to leave. I have a video below that he talks about it. It’s credited to Guy Clark and Gordie Simpson.

Guy Clark and Susanna Clark were married in 1972 with Townes Van Zandt as his best man. Susanna was a songwriter herself. She wrote the song “I’ll Be Your San Antone Rose” in 1975 performed by Dottsy Brodt Dwyer which made it to #12 in 1975….and co-wrote Kathy Mattea’s number one song “Come From The Heart.” She also wrote some songs with Townes Van Zandt.

Guy and Susanna Clark

In the 1960s, Guy Clark tried his luck in the California music scene. He also built and repaired guitars and had a shop in San Francisco in 1969. In 1971 he was signed as a songwriter by Sunbury Music in Los Angeles, he decided to relocate to the company’s Nashville office in 1971. His arrival helped usher in a migration of new songwriting talent to the city.

The Clarks’ home became a gathering spot for songwriters, folk singers, and artists including Rodney Crowell, Townes, Jim McGuire, Steve Earle, Emmylou Harris, Joe Ely, Lyle Lovett, Verlon Thompson, Shawn Camp, and Vince Gill.

In 1975 he released his first album Old No. 1 and eventually released 13 studio albums. Guy Clark passed away in 2016.

This song has been covered by Jerry Jeff Walker, Willie Nelson, and Wild Child.

In this video, he explains what influenced the song.

My Favorite Picture Of You

My favorite picture of youIs the one where you’re staringStraight into the lens

It’s just a Polaroid shotSomeone took on the spotNo beginning, no end

It’s just a moment in timeYou can’t have backYou never left but your bags were packedJust in case

My favorite picture of youIs bent and fadedAnd it’s pinned to my wallOh, and you were so angry

It’s hard to believeWe were lovers at allThere’s a fire in your eyesYou’ve got your heart on your sleeveA curse on your lips, but all I can seeIs beautiful

My favorite picture of youIs the one whereYour wings are showing

Oh, and your arms are crossedYour fists are clenchedNot gone but going

Just a stand up angelWho won’t back downNobody’s fool, nobody’s clownYou were smarter than that

My favorite picture of youIs the one whereIt hasn’t rained yet

Oh and as I recallCame a winter squallAnd we got soaking wetIt’s a thousand wordsIn the blink of an eyeThe camera loves youAnd so do IClick

My favorite picture of youIs the one where you’re staringStraight into the lens

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Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball, Beatles, Alternative music, old movies, and tv show fan. Also anything to do with pop culture in the 60s and 70s... I'm also a songwriter, bass and guitar player. Not the slightest bit interested in politics at all.

21 thoughts on “Guy Clark – My Favorite Picture of You”

  1. There’s nothing like a heart ache song when you’re heart is truly broken. That’s a love for the ages for those two. I have not seen the clip of Guy talking about it. I’m watching my 2 1/2 year old grandson right now so I’ll have to circle back.

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    1. It does feel like he is in the room with you…that adds to the personal feeling of the song. I feel for it for the lyrics and for that great melody.

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  8. She passed in 2012, he released the song in 2013, and he passed in 2016. She was his angel. May we all be so blessed to find that one once in a lifetime. That’s one hell of a song.

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  9. Nice little sparse tune with great lyrics that sure show the ups & downs of a long relationship. I like it. To me it sounds a little like earlyish Wilco- am I imagining that, Obbverse?

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  10. Good song that once you know the background takes on a new meaning that makes it pretty heartbreaking. While I was aware of Townes Van Zant, Guy Clark wasn’t in the picture – no pun intended.

    I also sampled a few other tracks from the album. I like the simplicity/spare instrumentation. I could have sworn the beautiful female backing vocals were by Emmylou Harris, probably because of her connection to Van Zant. It’s funny how the brain can trick you!

    But I just checked Wikipedia and they list Morgane Stapleton, a singer-songwriter who also is the wife of Chris Stapleton.

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    1. It is heartbreaking Christian…but it’s beautiful at the same time…so heartfelt.
      Oh wow! I didn’t know it was her. That is really cool. This was his last album…plus he still made guitars as well…that was his basement in Nashville he was at in that clip.

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