Pancho & lefty
Merle Haggard - Willie Nelson Lyrics
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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 goodbyeAnd 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
The lyrics to Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson's song "Pancho and Lefty" tell a haunting story of the lives of two outlaws - Pancho and Lefty. The opening lines, "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" sets the tone for the entire song. It describes the hardship and rough lifestyle that comes with constantly being on the run, and the physical toll it takes on a person.
The song goes on to describe Pancho as a bandit boy, with a horse that's fast as polished steel. Pancho wears his gun outside his pants for all the honest world to feel, emphasizing the fact that he was not someone to be messed with. The desert is portrayed as a dangerous and deadly place where Pancho meets his match and perishes, dying without anyone hearing his final words.
Lefty, the other leading character in the song, seems to be the survivor of the two. He can't sing the blues all night long like he used to and is living in cheap hotels. The song implies that Lefty survived the shootout and went on the run. He eventually ends up in Ohio, but it's not made clear how he got there or where he got the money to travel. The song concludes with the suggestion that while Pancho may need our prayers, Lefty also deserves our compassion.
Line by Line Meaning
Living on the road my friend
Living as a vagabond, always on the move
Was gonna keep you free and clean
Freedom from the restraints of society
And now you wear your skin like iron
Toughened by the hardships of the road and life
And your breath as hard as kerosene
Embittered towards the world and its people
Weren't your mama's only boy
Not the only child of your mother
But her favorite one it seems
Possibly favored over siblings by the mother
She began to cry when you said goodbye
Mother's sorrow at the prospect of separation
And sank into your dreams
Mother's sadness lingers long in your thoughts
Pancho was a bandit boy
Pancho was a criminal
His horse was fast as polished steel
Pancho owned a fast horse
He wore his gun outside his pants
Pancho was unafraid and flaunted his weaponry
For all the honest world to feel
Pancho projected an air of danger to everyone
Pancho met his match you know
Pancho faced a dangerous opponent
On the deserts down in Mexico
The fight between Pancho and his adversary took place in Mexico's deserts
Nobody heard his dying words
Pancho passed away alone
Ah but that's the way it goes
Death is inevitable and cannot be avoided
All the Federales say
Mexican federal law enforcement officials
They could have had him any day
They could have arrested Pancho anytime
They only let him slip away
Pancho was allowed to escape for unknown reasons
Out of kindness, I suppose
The reason for Pancho's release is unknown, but possibly it was out of kindness
Lefty, he can't sing the blues
Lefty is unable to perform as he did before
All night long like he used to
He lacks the endurance and energy of his earlier years
The dust that Pancho bit down south
The dust that Pancho raised during his fight in the south of Mexico
Ended up in Lefty's mouth
Lefty had to bear the consequences of Pancho's actions
The day they laid poor Pancho low
The day that Pancho was buried
Lefty split for Ohio
Lefty left the place of Pancho's burial for Ohio
Where he got the bread to go
Where Lefty got the money to leave is unknown
There ain't nobody knows
The reason for Lefty's departure is unknown
The poets tell how Pancho fell
There are many stories about Pancho's life and death
And Lefty's living in cheap hotels
Lefty is now living in low-cost accommodations
The desert's quiet, Cleveland's cold
Comparison between the quiet desert and the cold city of Cleveland
And so the story ends we're told
The story of Pancho and Lefty comes to an end
Pancho needs your prayers it's true
A call for prayers for the deceased Pancho
But save a few for Lefty too
A request to also pray for the living Lefty
He only did what he had to do
Lefty did what he needed to do to survive
And now he's growing old
Lefty is aging
We could have had him any day
The Federal officials could have caught Lefty anytime
We only let him go so long
They allowed him to evade the law for a significant period of time
Out of kindness, I suppose
The reason for Lefty's evasion is unknown, but the officials possibly sympathized
A few gray Federales say
The opinion of some of the older Federal officials
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Townes Van Zandt
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@rickhensley5963
Now this song is real C&W music. Not the half-baked twangy bill shit of today.
@charliewhite9777
Check out Daryll Mc Call " the weeds outlived the roses " ( 1976)
@JamesBond-ym2gv
Your absolutely right 💯💪🤠
@iwantmynametobeaslongaspos7194
Finally someone who agrees with me. Modern country is trash but old country is amazing. A lot of people say they hate all country but old country is art. This is coming from a big rap fan, I genuinely love country
@JimmyGelhaar
Preach it!!
@toddbob55
agreed ... january 1st of 2000 country music died
@cerconefamily2912
My grandfather was a troubled man. An orphan, an alcoholic and was severely abused as a child. He was really strong and very smart. He became very successful and had two beautiful daughters one of whom was my mother. When he got everything he ever wanted he destroyed because he was scared someone would take it all away. He drank himself into oblivion in a bar he had built in his house. My mother and her sister forbid us from seeing him but when I grew up I was really drawn to him. We had a great relationship and I helped mend the fences. We were all there at his deathbed. My mother cried like I've never seen before and he had a soldiers burial in Arlington. This was his favorite song. R.I.P. Granpa I hope you know everyone loved you.
@philschuler9674
Thats a beautiful and tragic story. God bless you and your Grandfather.
@samueldewey5528
My grandparents raised me n i never quite got to know my real dad n relate to this story R.I.P. GRAMPA love you much n miss ya
@KimCritchlow-cn3yf
Nice tribute