Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard...Pancho and Lefty

[vonwhite26]

Two legends in their prime...

[FEDRA211]

This songs brings back old memories of a Brave Man RAMON ARELLANO FELIX,the Tijuana Cartel Need's you (Comandante MON) Chaputo Guzman Still fears You

[kpk97]

@FEDRA211 You suck..Tijuana Trash!!!

[FEDRA211]

@kpk97 Fuck Off Internet Warrior, It would take big bolas to say that in my face, I've been in real fight's not Stupid Messages from Pussy's Like YOU

[voltariefan]

i cry wene i here this song and 82 people dont fell the story

[BarbarosaVaquero]

This song always gives me goose bumps.

Miss you Poncho.

[paranoidevolution]

they dont sing em like this anymore. this song is a legend!

[pascalbiker]

PURE SONG !!!!  respect !!!

[devilchille]

82 people are assholes, After all I don't go on and dislike your depeche mode videos

[kojies54]

great song!!!

[RICKKOLBERG]

Who would'nt like this song? This has to be considered for one of the bes tof all time.

[4H0RSEMEN]

@FarkZimpher "the dust that Pancho bit down South, ended up in Lefty's mouth." means because lefty kills pancho to collect the reward on him, that he cant sing the blues anymore because he will remember killing him. bit the dust= death. dust in the mouth= dry mouth/cant sing

[voltariefan]

@4H0RSEMEN you dont get it thats not wut it meas its about brotherly love man

[TheValdiviaC]

3:42 fake unibrow!

[put14in1]

the song infers that Lefty sold out Pancho and was there when Pancho bit the dust, thus some ended up in his mouth. Later when Willie sings 'where he get the bread to go'; again its infered he was paid off by the Federales.

Awesome tune!

[constancelena]

@FZ---haven't a clue but just woneribn'... it's about Pancho and Lefty--Pancho is one heavy--heavy as HE'S THE MAN deal-- dude--he goes down to Mexico--all over--I am not a war person but I know Pancho put it on the line many a time and yes ridin around the desert you're gonna eat dirt so when Pancho's gone...Lefty's up and has his turn at eatin' dirt. That had to be a very hard life. God bless those who had the strength to do it

rockinrobintweets----

[FarkZimpher]

Can someone help me with this lyric? Me and my dad were discussing it and were wondering what might the literal of this? Thanks..

"the dust that Pancho bit down South, ended up in Lefty's mouth."

[MSteacher7635]

@FarkZimpher I think .... and just my interpretation! ... it refers to the fact that Pancho died (bit the dust) because Lefty turned him in to the Federales. And because Lefty turned him in and, in a sense, caused his death ... Lefty lived with that bitter taste of guilt in his mouth. That's my two cents anyway!!

[29jaywalker]

@sainglain the best state in the U.S.... Texas.

[Ansular]

Enough of the dumbing down of America. Let's return to better music, movies, writing and sports stars by not buying low class crap done by people who can't sing, cant write, can't rhyme except with curse words, beat an original idea to death because they have no real imagination.  Let's return to talent, style, class and professionalism whereby you excel not by pointing at yourself, but letting your work and humbleness point at you.

[abrekutu]

@Ansular I'm afraid the "dumbing down" of America is irreversible.

[patchworkgrant2]

willie is a great hands down

[constancelena]

all my heroes have been cowboys

[rockinrobintweets]

@constancelena Hmmmmmmm, all my heroes have been bad boys, with good hearts.

[constancelena]

@rockinrobintweets yeah have some of those too...not really much of a follow the crowd person somehow I always ended up lovin guys like dylan, john lennon, george harrison, eric clapton, willie, waylon, merle, SNL, akroyd, belushib yada yada..give me a man with some road and history on him..not some pretty boy...not my style..ms square peg tis me

[David87124]

Working Townes Van Zandt into the video was a nice touch:)

[Gravida12]

@David87124 Agreed

[tonyswife351]

I love this song. Can someone please explain what it's about to me? It seems as if they're saying Lefty did something wrong, and I can't figure it out. haha

[Zetal47]

@tonyswife351 Lefty and Pancho were partners in crime. Lefty cut a deal with the federales where he sold out Pancho and skipped town to Cleveland.

"The day they laid poor Pancho low

Lefty split for Ohio

Where he got the bread to go

There ain't nobody knows"

"Desert's quiet, Cleveland's cold

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"

[12pntbuck]

My roots are anchored solid, my heritage is proud and true, I love beer and I love a women that will shoot a deer! Texas is my home and i'm proud to say it, just like everyone else likes to be proud of where they come from. So whats up yall join the party the beers ice cold! Don't tread on me and i won't tread on you!

[ShannonStephenSmith]

What an awsome song, Please click on my name and listen to my 3 originals, I will be posting another song about a bandid on the run from the sheriff called Live by the Gun and you'll die by one soon please sub my channel and support new music

Thanks

[ultrakool]

@Noturfriend they will, don't worry 'bout it. it's all cyclical. maybe your grandkids, perhaps. it's gonna happen, guaranteed

[ultrakool]

here's a hint..just skip to 3:20. that's the best part

[XXXH2BHXXX]

dont fucking watch the vid if you dont like willie

[cwinky71]

@JimColyer.................U SUCK!

[JimColyer]

Willie Nelson sucks and so does this song.

[noonan40004]

The most poignant lyrics in any song ever- "the dust pancho bit down south ended up in leftys mouth"

[zombiener08]

reminds me of me and my cousin !!!!!

[derrickb223]

somebody forward this video to the wanna be's of today....show what COUNTRY music is supposed to sound like

[STRUMMERBOY1975]

A Great Song..........:)

[kawkawakid]

I love seeing Townes Van Zandt cameo's.

[MSFOXYBOYNO1]

all my 40 years i have loved willie nelson...been to see him 10 times in the last 20 years..the highwaymen where expectional!!!!! i would ask that people be understanding with Glenn Campbell

[graham12367]

One of my favorite tunes in the world!!

[gabby1938]

You got that right karissatoad!  ...along with 7 spanish agels and Willie's other thousand songs. He is a country legend. Love you Willie!

[Cash900EX]

When this came out around '82/83 it was sensational . . . still is. Willie's reading of a song (breathing, interpretation, timing) is as good as it gets, and Merle's clearly a fan of Willie too. The track was originally on a Merle Haggard album. Enjoy . . .

[karissatoad]

78 people don't know the greatness of this song , !!

[4britter]

seven spanish angels THE BEST. dumbass federalies

[4britter]

seven spanish angels THE BEST

[musicalcacti]

I love you willie, but i think you should stay away from acting... stagecoach included

[Laneclin]

@musicalcacti Fuck That REDHEADED STRANGER KICKED ASS!

[JumpinJohnny0]

My most favorite cover of this Townes song was done by Hoyt Axton , sometime in the late 70's. This is just a commercial recording done to make a buck.. neither Willie or Merle seem to have their heart in it. Merle has a new album out that is fantastic..... and if you like this cover of Townes song by Willie, >> Red Headed Stranger album is the real deal. Tells a timeless story and Willie had his heart in it back then.

[WilliamHBonney55]

As a Canadian I remember this song very much.

[chetdea]

Willie is the man. No one no where will ever rise to his talent. He has filled every concert I've ever been to. He;s so colorfull and honest he's hard not to respest. I would love to hang out and play some golf with him.

[35150Alabama]

Great song. HELLofa vid to go with it. Good ole Willie.

[aslanmemcup]

I like words and terms as much as the guy, yet one term I hear in the song I dont really understand ...

"The dust that Pancho bit down south, ended up in Lefty's mouth"

Its clear the two were inter-twined some how besides Lefty chasin him all over the place.

At the start, it looks like Pancho been shot, who shot him ?

Questions ..questions...questions.I know..

Seems Lefty collected the reward,thats how he made it to Ohio

I wanna say as well .its set in maybe early 1900's

[greatmackattack]

@aslanmemcup Hey bud, I had never seen the video til now but I had always took it to mean that Lefty and Pancho were bandits familiar to each other before and maybe fought together in the Mexican revolution. Then 'ol Lefty decided to takethe ransom onPanchoand run to Ohio...Pancho biting the dust down south was Pancho dying inMexico and later as Lefty was dying alone in Ohio he realized it was better to go out in a blaze of fire than to sell yourself and your friend out. No research, my opinion.

[FreedomOfDixie]

@greatmackattack thats a nice observashin there are alot of things far worse than death

[Deaditenumerouno]

Bone chilling, Thank you Willie.



[karacjohnson]

@Deaditenumerouno thank townes van zandt for writing the song!

[Deaditenumerouno]

@karacjohnson Really a great song but Willie makes it his own. I'll have to see what else Townes wrote. Is he related to the Van Zandt's of Lynard Skynard?

[karacjohnson]

@Deaditenumerouno no i dont think he is. he never got real popular but so much of his work is amazing its sad that he never got more exposure

[kimmybazelli]

DON'T MESS WITH TEXAS, OR WILLIE!

[musicjunkie696980]

i love you willie



[downsouth00]

@musicjunkie696980 Its townes van zandts song not willies

[jlilyroth12]

@downsouth00

Willie is a great songwriter as is Merle. However it was written by Townes Van Zant.

[downsouth00]

I know everyones saying wilies the greatest like it is his song but Im saying it townes song so he deserves the credit

[whatuautado]

Geez what happened to good country music?

[dawnjakeleah]

Merle's voice is so good - Man , I really love this song.

[kytrucker1]

this song is the greatest

[martel732]

I like this version, but for some reason I find Emmylou much more pleasurable to watch than Willie. Go figure...

[187666coffee]

1.05 townes van zandt

[monchichi025]

@187666coffee Townes Van Zandt is bad ass!!

[Jones60100]

Sorry,, it was his great-great grandfather, Sam Houston appointed him charge de affairs to the US in 1842 and he later died while running for Gov. Townes got his name from his great grandfather on his mother's side, for whom Townes' Hall is named at UT Austin School of Law. The Van Zandts were bigtime into building Fort Worth into a real city. That's why I can just see his Mom crying "when he said goodbye, and sank into his dream." Hey, He did what he wanted, or had to do. Sad he's gone. GJ

[Jones60100]

Townes is throughout the video, his is the first face you see after Willie, he's in a Federale uniform. He said the song just came to him, he just wrote it down. I think the first two verses could be autobiographical. He had some real struggles with Heroin and Alchohol, and his family wanted him to be a lawyer. Van Zandt county is named after his great-grandfather, who was appointed liason to the US by Sam Rayburn before Texas gave away it's Independence. Texas Monthly, March '98. Really Sad

[niichthe3rd]

Kind of haunting having Townes in it......



[fiddlefolk]

Texas and Oklahoma have turned out some bad ass country singers and songwriters over the years! I am thankful for the Texas upbringing! Yankees don't be pissed off or judgmental over this comment! Just proud of my heritage!

[mrmarkymark77]

@fiddlefolk this Yankee agrees and is not pissed , God Bless theUSA, funny tho clint black is from jersey,

[fiddlefolk]

@mrmarkymark77 are you sure about that? Clint may have been born there but he has lived most of his life in Houston,TX.

[bbygrl85848]

@fiddlefolk i am from new york and i agree willie.waylon woodie guthrie arlo.johnny6 paycheck the list is endless i think old school country is better than new bullshit....

[2BlackHarleys]

@bbygrl85848

You are welcome to our part of " This Land" anytime you want. You have the Southern Soul. Just remember 'we say Grace and we say Ma'm!

[DRAGON244818]

@fiddlefolk nice cooment i am yankee but we are all americans to the end

[Panzefaust1856]

@DRAGON244818 Yeah, fighting American! OWS, the scum of America!

[nimrod4017]

@fiddlefolk no offense taken. I liked Texas but I damn well I could never put up with that heat. give me a 10 degree day anytime

[fiddlefolk]

@nimrod4017 i can't handle that cold weather! I shut down! You have to be part eskimo to live like that!

[sainglain]

@fiddlefolk - where is Willie from?

[PatwMartin]

The guy in the background at 1:02 looks a bit like Townes Van Zandt.

[willong1000]

@PatwMartin Yeah, that's him--he's also sitting at the table, playing his guitar, in the cafe scene at the end. While I've always loved this song, I never knew it was not a Nelson/Haggard original until I saw this video and a comment similar to yours. Another's response, like mine now, informed me that Townes Van Zandt was the writer. Don't know how I missed him in my 61 years, but so glad I've now discovered his work, and the work of his friend Blaze Foley. Thanks, and R.I.P., guys.

[coolray44]

@PatwMartin ,  it is townes

[josephs44]

@PatwMartin guitarist at 4:03 is Townes Van Zandt

[musclecarluvr1]

We're running out of real Country legends that are still with us, but here are two of the best there ever was.

[jedi007cf]

@musclecarluvr1 hey, if you havn't already, check out Hank III, !! pure awesome! i totally agree with ur post though

[jackobite68]

towns van zan best story teller ever rip

[NaRkHaWk]

thumbs UP if this makes you wish could go back to the 80's and do it all over!

[aslanmemcup]

Breathless

Timeless

Immortal.....are but a few words I could use, to tell of the feelings and emotions; as well as sights, sounds, smells that roll through my head as I watch and listen to this tune.

As for .would I pay to watch the movie ?.. the reader will need to LISTEN ..not just hear ...my answer.

COST ....would be a issue for me

Now ya talk about WORTH now.......wayyyy worth the price of admission

[mat11trick]

Stick to singin Willie. 1983 at its finest.

[ray77j]

One of my favorite songs. Movie idea is great. Only thing..the horse is way to clean and white for this video.

[thebone927]

That's what I'm talkin about,,,,,,



[Wedgeidoc]

Me too, Hell I remember listening to the Grand Ol' Opry with my older brothers. On the tailgate of an old pickup. Too damn old I guess. Wedge

[mcpheonixx]

I don't care how old I ever get or how bad my memory will get. I will always recognize that voice and guitar.

[ArcoZakus]

@mcpheonixx

You say that now, but 30 years from now the trick will not be remembering the voice and guitar, but recalling the name that goes with it (was that Wally something? Uh, Nelson Waylon? No, that's not it ...) You may not believe it now, so I hope you have a healthy and long enough life to see whether I'm right.

[qwertyuiop7280]

BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID!!!!!!!!!! Watch it. Now.

[timpoland]

i have an original album spelled poncho and lefty. rare?

[nesnejls]

Definitely dig it, quite a bit actually, but the arrangement isn't my favourite.

[domcplnc]

Townes version was better but this is great

[seventy4strat]

I just noticed Townes is at the table playing the guitar.

[HColette]

@seventy4strat Townes is in the scene in the tavern with the Federales, in the first close-up and then in the background, He's also in the scene where they pay off Lefty - first horse on the right and then standing around. And, of course, he's in the last scene in the modern setting.

[jerdeb4evr]

@seventy4strat Surprising that a guy found unconscious with 5 tubes of airplane glue stuck to his teeth can sit up, anywhere, ever. Said he wrote this song in one night, after the glue incident, long after.

[Brizzle412]

one of the greatest country songs with out a doubt. thaks willie and merle



[traslomita]

this song is in honor for pancho villa aka el centauro del north my gringaz, aguzados my niggaz he was a friend of jeronymo the lasT american warrior , before he was sended to the fucking reservations,yes like some warrior said before., on what right the white people sending us to 1 place, when all they are roaming free? u all need to learn was freedom and what is america, cuz untill now u dont know shit about it,right now u bowing to u masters n will vote again to be slaves, BOLA DE ZEROTEZ

[rlwestm83]

Definately one of the all time classic country songs.

[gypsyfreegrl]

love me some Willie what a legend....now this our backbone...give me dabs to the matt..ba ha ha

[Grroocx]

A song about retributive justice. There is poetic justice too, but this is retributive--what goes around, comes around. As Lefty betrayed his best friend, so he himself--Lefty--became the victim of the loss he himself perpetrated. Retributive justice; a superbly poignant portrayal thereof.

[vicleromc]

one of the best songs from Willie..

[abominable36]

68 people are the biggest douche bags on the planet

[KPD209]

@abominable36

Nah....they're just showing that they have no imagination or soul.....

[abominable36]

@KPD209 lol thats true

[thedylanschrader]

decent but I still like Townes' version better.  He is, after all, the poet laureate of country music.

[Aguathuna1]

Is that Townes Van Zandt, sitting with a guitar in the cafe scene at the end of the video

[darlincommitme]

@Aguathuna1

Yep - that is Townes.

[drtydawg51]

thats Lone Star Beer they're drinking at the end of the video too

[drtydawg51]

they kinda sorta made a movie based on this....it was called BARBAROSA...and yes...Willie was in it with Gary Busey....I delivered stage material to the set in texas when it was in production

[brwniez1]

ohhhhh such a CLASSIC ,great song :] dad use to play this all the time when i was little...those were the days :-L ..<3

[ezrider0037]

Great song love willie and merle!!

[D1ckNuggets]

This must've been made back when the budget for country videos was like a grand.

[jane78ist]

I taught my children to love all types of muics from cLassical to country and rock to blues, and everything in between ! They will call me and ask if I ever heard of this person and I said yes I am proud to rasie them to see all is okay! To be one color does not mean you need to listen to one !!!!!! This song is a classic ! My mother listen to conutry muisc and I learn Dolly Parton I will always love you before it was remade!!!!!!!1;0)

[izmhsk]

@jane78ist word, me too....and i am a true hiphopper!! but, i love all musical genres, and hope my kids can enjoy them aswell!!

[Aquapello1967]

So awesome to see Townes Van Zandt at 1:01. So glad they included him in the video. Townes Van Zandt was an amazing singer / songwriter.

[stars1861]

Townes Van Zandt @ 4:03 ?

[ArchieDavis50]

All 68 live in D.C., work for the government, think they deserve a raise, and folk that listen to this aren't smart enough to appreciate RAP...

[MalibuFilmsWT]

This might just be the perfect song. 68 people are freaking morons.

[Dave29671]

This is a special song by a special man and performed by a special duo.

[mq8621]

I NEED to see Willie before Its too late!!!

[lneranger4]

Did merle really leap onto that horse?great singer/songwriter/human,did not know he was a horseman.

[justbornlucky]

thats Townes in the video too.........

[tkbywatr]

the song deserves a full length film based on it, id pay to see it wouldnt you?

[boats1st13]

@tkbywatr Heck yeah! In a heart beat. This is a great song with an even greater story.

[187666coffee]

@tkbywatr been think that for years too

[SoulReaper2427]

@tkbywatr without a doubt

[anubis1974]

Make this movie Hollywood!!!!!

Cowboys and Aliens!? Are you kidding me?

[starlow1]

they are amazing !!

[aknowneemus]

the genius of Townes Van Zandt!

[Nithistle]

I didn't know this song had a video! Wow. My dad loves this song, so I've known it nearly my whole life. We always sang it together when i was a little kid. I know every word by heart ; )

[JeredtheShy]

I can see why people would dislike this. Get those fukking synth chords outta there. Such a good song smeared by eighties weirdness.

[shamner2]

Okay folks, my husband and I are having a disagreement about whether the first verse is about Pancho or Lefty...I say it's about Pancho and he's wrong :-) I do realize the song is about Lefty's betrayal of Pancho. Does anyone have an opinion?

[yetiboy713]

@shamner2 ok the first verse is about pancho and lefty on the run, note the living on the road my friend so it not about one of them since they never actually mention either one of them till verse 2. hope this helps

[scribbler1965]

sigh...

[russell1704]

whoever dont like this song, can go listen to boy george cause they are queers

[4H0RSEMEN]

There are Legends and Heroes. Legends are people like Willie,Merle,Waylon,Johnny and a few others. Heroes are people like the WWII veterans. And someday they all will be gone but not forgotten. God Bless America

[anubis1974]

I'm speechless. haunting...amazing!