View Full Version : Pancho & Lefty
Heard "pancho and lefty" on WDVX a few times recently with nice mando doing harmony and some fiddle and other instruments, nice arrangement. I never am around to hear the DJ announce the songs (some annoying person always seems to step into my office and want about ... work)
Any know who does this version?
Eric F.
Jun-24-2005, 2:36pm
You sure it wasn't Townes?
I think I found it. Wouldn't you know it's my favorite blues artist, Delbert McClinton ...
http://www.amazon.com/exec....=507846 (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00005NT3S/qid=1119642307/sr=8-11/ref=pd_bbs_ur_11/102-4521805-7214556?v=glance&s=music&n=507846)
Merle & Willie have recorded it as a duet. I don't have it in front of me at the moment(work!!##) - But I remember it was a Merle tape - (Willie guest-ing w. Merle). I also think it(Willie & Merle) was used in a movie of the same "theme" - hope this helps. Moose. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
M. Hollen
Jun-26-2005, 10:49am
There's a version of it on "old and in the Gray". Grisman does a nice mando intro to the song.
There's a version of it on "old and in the Gray". Grisman does a nice mando intro to the song.
Yeah, I was trying to learn it and needed to hear a version without going out and spending $15 on a CD so I went to my old trusty free song source www.bluegrassbox.com. There's a few OaitG shows with it. Downloaded one and worked fine.
The timing is kinda funky, there's a couple measure with only two beats. I couldn't figure it out from memory with just a lyric sheet. I needed to count out the beats a few times while listen real careful.
Still, I'd like to buy the Delbert version on a compilation tribute CD. Amazon only has it three referal to used sites and it's like $30 for a new copy. Gotta keep looking.
Any have any other favorite Townes Van Zandt songs?
Bobbie Dier
Jun-26-2005, 7:51pm
"If I needed you". That's one of my favorites. I liked hearing him sing it.
Eric F.
Jun-26-2005, 10:21pm
"Snowin' on Raton," "To Live Is to Fly," "Tecumseh Valley," Tower Song," "Lovers Lullaby" - oh, the list goes on and on. Townes rocked. I believe Steve Earle once said, "Townses Van Zandt is the best g-d songweriter in America and I'll stand on Bob Dylan's coffee table in my cowboy boots and say that." Or something like that. ...
OdnamNool
Jun-27-2005, 6:32am
Well... I could be wrong... But I think (forgive the spelling...???) Emmie Lou Harris does a version of this tune which is purdy darn good...
She's actually coming to my town soon. But I really dislike the "venue" where she will be playing... YICK! I ain't goin'. HEADS UP! Cool, friendly little theatres rock. That downtown b.s.... No thanks...
Moose
Jun-27-2005, 10:35am
Emmy, of course, will "ride in, take the money and ride out" - a.l.a Jesse James style. (and yes, I do understand where yer' comin' from re: "venues" - and I agree!) - Moose.
OdnamNool
Jun-28-2005, 2:05am
Ahhh. #Moose... #For what it's worth... #You always bring a #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif #smile to my face... #Thanks.
David M.
Jun-30-2005, 9:00am
White Freightliner Blues
Rex's Blues -- Guy Clark does a killer version on "The Dark". Most of Townes' stuff is best fingerpicked on a guitar. Not too hard to pick like Townes' style, but impossible to write like him.
I'd recommend ANYONE who is a Townes fan to watch Heartworn Highways. Info is on Townes' and maybe Steve Earle's site. Very cool video footage from '75 or so and a very young Steve Earle wowing folks like Guy Clark, Rodney Crowell, and Steve Young.
carolynbeth
Jul-18-2005, 9:55pm
Gillian Welch and David Rawlings do a killer version of Pancho & Lefty -- no mandolin of course, but David's guitar work is just sublime on this piece -- understated and perfect. Great tune.
Carolyn
mandocrucian
Jul-18-2005, 10:34pm
Emmylou Harris - Luxury Liner, great spacey acid country rendition.
Emmylou's version is a long-time favorite. I would like to hear Gillian's and David's version... what CD is it on?
carolynbeth
Jul-19-2005, 11:07pm
It's not any of their CDs unfortunately -- that I know of, anyway. The version I have is on a recording from one of their live shows from the late '90s-- shared with me courtesy of another cafe member.... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
Happy to pass on the favor; PM me if you're interested.
Carolyn
Ain't this CAFE great!! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
James P
Jul-21-2005, 12:58pm
I never "got" that song. #Not that I don't love it. #But yea, my fav version is the Welch, Rawlings one. #You can download it, along with a whole concert of great songs from here. (http://www.the-grotto.com/talk/thread.jsp?forum=1&thread=8020&message=28448)
"...Poncho fled to Ohio ; where he got the "bread" to go..., no one knows..." Good song!! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif
David M.
Jul-26-2005, 3:40pm
Not much to get, really. Lefty turned his brother in for some "bread". That's my take. Great song and I love the way Townes would do it.
Livin on the road my friend, is gonna keep you free and clean
Now you wear your skin like iron
Your breath as hard as kerosene
You weren't your momma'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 dyin words, ah but that's the way it goes
All the Federales say, they could've 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've had him any day
They only let him slip away out of kindness I suppose
The boys tell how old Pancho fell, and Lefty's livin 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, they could've had him any day
They only let him go so long, out of kindness I suppose
A few gray Federales say, they could've had him any day
They only let him go so long, out of kindness I suppose
Hey David! - Never could get ALL the words to that song!# - Great song - ...like to pick n' sing it. Thanks! Moose. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif
David M.
Jul-27-2005, 9:30am
Yessir, Moose, it's a good 'un. #I like it on the flattop, fingerpicked like ol' Townes. #Steve Earle has a good version of this one.
AGAIN, I'd recommend renting "Heartworn Highways" to anyone who's a fan of Townes, Guy Clark, etc. #Townes does it on this dvd -- just him and guitar.
David M.
Jul-27-2005, 9:33am
Moose, it's rare that I get "all" the words to any songs these days. I think my hard drive is getting corrupt http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
hellindc
Aug-08-2005, 12:51am
I play that song a lot, though on the guitar. I don't think there are any half measures in it. There is fast change frm 4 to 1 to 5, two beats of five near the end of each verse, though, which makes it a little rough for jams.
Guy Clark is coming to our neck of the woods -- finally. I hope he's got his band with a mando player. We have a venue just outside of St. Louis, a small lodge, and the artists play in what amounts to a big living room. I'd love to hear Picasso's Mandolin, but I suspect that ones a bit old. Anyway, I thought of Guy because of Ft. Worth Blues, a eulogy for Townes (or did Steve Earle write that?).
David M.
Aug-08-2005, 9:38pm
S. Earle wrote Ft. Worth Blues for Townes. Guy has in the past few years made it a point to put a Townes song on every record he makes. Read that in an interview w/him somewhere. There's a good record right there -- the 3 of them live at the bluebird.
Mike Bunting
Aug-08-2005, 10:03pm
At the Calgary folk festival last month, Steve finished his set with a rap about his apprenticeship with Townes and how important he was to him and sang the awesome Rex's Blues and segued into Ft. Worth Blues. Oh, man!
David M.
Aug-09-2005, 8:33am
Don't know if yall saw it or not, but an incredible Austin City Limits was when Steve, Guy Clark, Emmy, Nanci Griffith, Rodney Crowell, Willie, and others sat in a circle telling tales of Townes and celebrating his death w/his songs. Incredible.
When SE did Ft. Worth Blues, there wasn't a dry eye in that circle, I don't think.
That's a good ACL show.
hellindc
Aug-10-2005, 8:28pm
There's a lot of mando on Guy's CDs. I hope he's travelling with a player.
David M.
Aug-10-2005, 9:50pm
Sam Bush was on Boats to Build of Guy's and Darrell Scott has done mando on several of his. Darrell's a great singer, too, if you haven't checked him out.
racuda
Aug-25-2005, 7:28pm
Don't know if yall saw it or not, but an incredible Austin City Limits was when Steve, Guy Clark, Emmy, Nanci Griffith, Rodney Crowell, Willie, and others sat in a circle telling tales of Townes and celebrating his death w/his songs. #Incredible.
When SE did Ft. Worth Blues, there wasn't a dry eye in that circle, I don't think.
That's a good ACL show.
Yes, a GREAT show. If you register, the entire show can be downloaded here (http://www.the-grotto.com/talk/thread.jsp?forum=1&thread=7471&message=26855).