About the song
Townes Van Zandt: A Timeless Ballad of Friendship and Loss
In the realm of American folk music, few names resonate as profoundly as Townes Van Zandt . His songs, steeped in poetic imagery and raw emotion, have earned him a place among the pantheon of songwriting greats. One such masterpiece is “Pancho and Lefty, ” a haunting ballad that explores themes of friendship, loss, and the passage of time.
Released in 1972 on Van Zandt’s critically acclaimed album, The Late Great Townes Van Zandt , “Pancho and Lefty” tells the story of two outlaws on the run. As their journey unfolds, the song delves into the complexities of their bond, capturing the bittersweet nature of their friendship. Van Zandt’s evocative lyrics paint a vivid picture of the American West, with its vast open spaces and the rugged characters who inhabit them.
The song’s narrative is as simple as it is profound. Pancho and Lefty, two drifters on the edge of society, find solace and companionship in each other. However, their freedom is fleeting, and their fate is sealed. The haunting chorus, “Well, I woke up this morning and I got on my knees and I asked the Lord for something to ease this pain, ” encapsulates the deep sorrow and longing that permeate the song.
What makes “Pancho and Lefty” so enduring is its universal appeal. While the song is set in a specific time and place, its themes are timeless. The loss of a dear friend, the fleeting nature of life, and the search for meaning are experiences that resonate with people from all walks of life. Van Zandt’s ability to convey such profound emotions with such simplicity is a testament to his songwriting genius.
Over the years, “Pancho and Lefty” has been covered by numerous artists, from Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard to Emmylou Harris and Bob Dylan. These interpretations have only served to solidify the song’s place in the American music canon. However, it is Van Zandt’s original version that remains the definitive recording.
If you’re a fan of Heartworn Highways music, or if you simply appreciate great songwriting, then “Pancho and Lefty” is a must-listen. It’s a song that will stay with you long after the final note fades.
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Lyrics
Living on the road my friend
Was gonna keep you free and clean
And now you wear your skin like iron
And your breath as hard as kerosene
Weren’t your mama’s only boy
But her favorite one it seems
She began to cry when you said goodbye
And sank into your dreams
Pancho was a bandit boy
His horse was fast as polished steel
He wore his gun outside his pants
For all the honest world to feel
Pancho met his match you know
On the deserts down in Mexico
Nobody heard his dying words
Ah but that’s the way it goes
All the Federales say
They could have had him any day
They only let him slip away
Out of kindness, I suppose
Lefty, he can’t sing the blues
All night long like he used to
The dust that Pancho bit down south
Ended up in Lefty’s mouth
The day they laid poor Pancho low
Lefty split for Ohio
Where he got the bread to go
There ain’t nobody knows
All the Federales say
They could have had him any day
We only let him slip away
Out of kindness, I suppose
The poets tell how Pancho fell
And Lefty’s living in cheap hotels
The desert’s quiet, Cleveland’s cold
And so the story ends we’re told
Pancho needs your prayers it’s true
But save a few for Lefty too
He only did what he had to do
And now he’s growing old
All the Federales say
We could have had him any day
We only let him go so long
Out of kindness, I suppose
A few gray Federales say
We could have had him any day
We only let him go so long
Out of kindness, I suppose