Pancho And Lefty: An Unforgettable Song

July 08, 2026 00:03:57
Pancho And Lefty: An Unforgettable Song
Heart Banter/Music Covers & Acoustic Guitar
Pancho And Lefty: An Unforgettable Song

Jul 08 2026 | 00:03:57

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Show Notes

Townes Van Zandt’s life touched mine only tangentially until recently. I first heard of Van Zandt through Nanci Griffith’s cover of his song “Tecumseh Valley.” Like many Van Zandt ballads, it tells a tragic and beautifully melodic story about a woman named Caroline. “Techumseh Valley” is about a life, a time, and a place far from the life I’ve led. Yet, it’s a song I’ll never forget. Although Van Zandt never became a big name in the music world during his career, it is because of the depth, emotion, and poignancy of songs like “Tecumseh Valley” that the singer and songwriter is remembered and celebrated today, almost thirty years after his death.

There are two more Van Zandt songs that have really touched me. They are “If I Needed You” and “Pancho and Lefty.” I’m covering “Pancho and Lefty” here. “If I Needed You” will arrive in the near future.

Thanks for listening.

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Episode Transcript

[00:00:07] Living on the road, my friend gonna keep you free and clean. [00:00:14] Now you wear your skin like iron, your breath as hard as kerosene. [00:00:21] You weren't your mama's only born but her favorite one it seems she began to cry when you said goodby and second to your dreams. [00:00:40] Pancho was a bandit boy. [00:00:44] His horse was fast as polished steel. [00:00:47] He wore his gun outside his pants for all the honest world of fear. [00:00:54] Pancho met his match. You know when the desert's down in Mexico and nobody hurt his die Lying words. [00:01:07] How about that? It goes call the fed around and say they could have had him any day. [00:01:20] They only let him slip away out of kindness I suppose Lefty can't sing the blues all night long like he used to. [00:01:39] The dusted Poncho bit down south ended up and left his mouth the day they laid poor Poncho low Left his pit for Ohio where he got the bread to go there ain't nobody knows how the federal is way I could have had a many day we only let him get away how the kindness I suppose. [00:02:41] Poets tell how Poncho fell left it living in a cheap hotel the desert's quiet and Cleveland's cold so the story ends we're told Poncho need your prayers it's true but save a few for Lefty too. [00:03:02] He only did what he had to do now he's growing. [00:03:18] All the federally say we could have had him any day we only let him slip away Kind of kindness, I suppose a few grave turn around and say we could have had him any day we only let him go so long out of kindness I suppose.

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