Emmylou Harris : Pancho & Lefty (1977)

[theBarabarian]

Willie never sounded so good :-)

[rfcarl69]

Does please the Texas in me.

[mrbmac0509]

A natural beauty and oh my, what a voice!

[darganpaddy]

I think you'll find that the song was written by Townes Van Zandt.

[chrispmis]

This is a great song; it's tough to say if I like this version or Willie's. I'm more familiar with Willie's but this one is damn good. Emmylou has such a powerful voice. She could probably break the longnecks in the room if she really let it go. Thanks for posting.

[nwplts]

Sublime

[longrthanu]

You can see that stunningly beautiful grey hair coming in.

[tangogirl100]

The beautiful & amazing Emmy Lou at her best....I see her every time she comes to SLC, Utah & she gives such a great performance & we all just go wild....love her..

[tehnoplus1]

Guys, English is not my first languge. What is the deal with Pancho and Lefty? What's the story? What's the relation between the two ?

Thank you!

[MrRegMackworthy]

@tehnoplus1 In Townes Van Zant's documentary entitled "Be Here To Love Me" he says that it doesn't have a meaning. I highly recommend watching that documentary, its awesome.

[tehnoplus1]

@MrRegMackworthy Thank You, I will watch that!

[litlbitmorluv]

@tehnoplus1 I don't want to seem a bit insulting, honest, but 99 times ouit of 100 when you write a song, you just sort of go "into labor" and BLECTH out it comes, not for or at or to or about anyone in particular. I believe this was one of those cases. You come up with a lick or a lyric and poof! there is a song. This is a great one, in my never-humble opinion, and Emmy does it great.

[tehnoplus1]

@litlbitmorluv Got it, thanks. My guess was that 50 times out of 100 the song won't be related to any particular facts. You may be right; I never tried to write something myself :)

[fmrelay]

@tehnoplus1 I partly disagree with litlbitmorluv. I admit I can't make out the first verse, but all the rest comes together very nicely into a comprehensible (if fictional) story. Pancho died in a shootout with Mexican Federal forces, while accomplice Lefty "somehow" got enough money to flee the same day to Cleveland. The implication is that Lefty sold Pancho out & was allowed to escape on condition that he leave Mexico. "Dust in his mouth" is an English idiom for his regret.

[wingleethefighter]

@fmrelay do you realize this was the original the composer of the song? That is what counts and she sings it well

[chrispmis]

@fmrelay - Thanks for clearing up those lyrics and their meaning. Greatly appreciated.

[jojoheartspaypay]

FAVORITED, plain and simple.

[martel732]

Beautiful woman, beautiful voice. Emmylou captures the essence of humanity in her performances.

[2bbuckwlw]

Emmylou is awesome... her live shows are captivating and she always has great musicians and performers with her.

[INUIT3333]

Is this song from Gram Parssons?

[ricilake]

@INUIT3333

Townes Van Zandt

[INUIT3333]

@ricilake

Thank You!

[teddybort]

Unbeatable.....singer and band in complete harmony....it doesn't come any better

[badgerman2010]

Great song with king Albert on guitar!

[tropnevadjon]

@gmartinz011 - Completely agree.

A friend of mine posted this on Facebook earlier and I must have listed to it 10 times today. If I had a soul, this song and Emmylou's voice would have touched it...already one of my favourite songs of all time and this version is easily the best I have ever heard...

Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful...

[Fuschia23]

I love how she wears bracers to play guitar.

[bigbadfitter]

She can bring tears to my eyes any time she sings. God put his hand on her shoulder and gave her the gift and she knows how to use it.

[edgemark1]

Everything that was great about the 70's can be found right here....

[gmartinz01]

Covered by Emmylou Harris, this is one of the greatest songs in American history, about America. Every verse has meaning and insight, and Emmylou's voice and interpretatation is magnificent.

[UChewbANNA]

Townes Van Zandt lyrics and music... voice by an angel.

[ropermrmeredith06]

beautiful

[jellyjukebox]

Oh Emmylou, , , young, beautiful, and possessing the most amazing voice to grace this planet, , so soothing, she goes down like cold iced tea on a hot summer's day.

[MyBarbara666]

all righ thats it utube fuck off!

[roadwarrior3]

Gervaise53

Danke schön von Roadwarrior3.

[40coupe1]

Always wondered who could play the parts of 'Pancho' and 'Lefty' in a movie from this classic Townes Van Zandt song....it's too late, now, of course, but I'd have to have said Warren Zevon as 'Lefty', and Benicio Del Toro as 'Pancho'.

We'll never know, will we?

Producer(s)? The Coen brothers, most likely...

[johnmcd7]

Emmylou and Rodney Crowell...........Heaven on earth!  There is NO finer duet in Country music EVER!

[skeebot]

She's still beautiful, too.

[signorgelato]

Brings back the memories of her playing with the wonderful Hot Band at the pier concerts in NYC, '77 or '78. The lady is eternal and is a mortal who truly can work magic, and is pleasant a person as you'd ever want to meet. I love you after all these years, Emmylou. My favorite Emmylou song as only the Hot Band and she couyld make it happen!

[rsshapiro]

Amazing. Boy, this makes me feel old.  Emmylou is the best.

[0520bitch]

what else can u say? 33 yrs . this still makes me smile. i guess we"re all getting old!

[ehairgrove]

I caught Emmylou's 1977 tour stop at the the San Diego Community Concourse with my friends Mike and Patty C. I remember her singing this as if it were yesterday.

[roseofcimarron]

Thanks for this video. Is it available on DVD?

1975-1980 is Emmylou's best period: her voice is incredible, her band is great and she's so beautiful!

I've discovred country music thanks to Emmylou. To me she's definetly the "country angel", and one of my favourite singer. This song features in her great album "LUXURY LINER" : one of the best with "PIECES OF THE SKY" and the awesome 3QUARTER OF MOON IN A TEN CENT TOWN"

[Ginger0Bob]

@roseofcimarron I feel the same, I discovered Emmylou Harris back in 1975.....been a huge fan every sence.

[MrEconline]

I am mesmerized.

[dghuggs]

Don't forget Rodney Crowell, shown in this video. Never became a big star himself., but was part of so many others' stardom.

[dghuggs]

Heard her (them) several times at the Seattle Bumbershoot Festival, back it was a free event! Where did those good times go?

[darlincommitme]

Haven't listened to this in a while.. and had forgotten how much the Nelson/Haggard version follows the Hot Band arrangement. Thanks!

[TruegrassBoy]

So when was Ricky Skaggs in the Hot Band? Wasn't it around this time?

[1000Magicians]

@TruegrassBoy yes, Ricky joined the Hot Band the following year 1978. He had just joined the 1st time I saw Emmylou 'live' at The Royal Albert Hall London that year............laurie

[TruegrassBoy]

@1000Magicians - Wow, quick reply / answer. Thanks Laurie!

[MrTahitijack]

Thanx' for te' post; ana' .... 

[robertmorganfisher]

Hank DeVito -- who wrote "Queen of Hearts." I saw this configuration of the Hot Band backing Emmy at Memorial Hall in Columbus, OH in the spring of that year ('77). Leo Kottke opened. Some shows leave a permament mark.

[RandyTheBee]

We saw her here in Boise last fall, 2010. Still Fabulous, with top-notch musicians backing her up - of course! Great rapport with the audience of 300.

[dangeorge54]

Emmylou with the original Hot Band, it doesn't get any better,,,,,,she has the vioce of an angel.......dgw

[imack606]

if only a female artist could hit the stream today like this and for the chance for it to catch on... would change everything.

[lillyput13]

It is obvious that people with ultimate class comment on EmmyLou. The Godess!!

I find that I can say nothing that has not been said about this LADY. Long may she Reign.

[tetonskier1]

Good lord she's beautiful!

[tigerdog1954]

Heard Emmylou back in the 70s at Gilley's Club in Pasadena on a Sunday night

[g81atherton]

goddess

[Creaky1964]

Emmy Lou: One of a kind.

[bankan01]

I've got a nice recording of this band from "My fathers place" NY around this time. The best liverecording ever made. I mean the band is in their best shape.

I think it was a radio broadcast. Anyone intrested email me: vinyl@ownit.nu

[bankan01]

Hear how John Ware set the right tempo to this song after the first slow verse.

[stcruz007]

That's because she is an Angel.

[lesanne2]

Great voice and great Band .

[kyndone79]

This song brings a smile to my face:)

I dedicate this to you...you know who you are!!

AMO

[blogegog]

@kyndone79 Thanks for dedicating this song to me!

[socalmax]

Voice of an angel....



[ming746]

That should be Gram there beside her singing. So sad!

[choochcavone]

What a band: Rodney Crowell (harmonies), Al Perkins (pedal steel), and yes that is Albert Lee (lead guitar), and of course Emmy Lou. Wow.

[1000Magicians]

@choochcavone Yeah a great band. It is Hank DeVito on steel though not Al Perkins.

Laurie

[choochcavone]

@1000Magicians My mistake. Thanks for the correction.

[camgrier]

@choochcavone

Who is playing bass?

[choochcavone]

@camgrier I think it's Emory Gordy, but not positive.

[vosinddieandere69]

@choochcavone and doing a Townes van Zandt song, no less :0)

[Fenderpilot]

@choochcavone Don't forget the legendary Glen D Hardin on piano!! :)

[bashfulbrother]

@choochcavone Called "the Hot Band".

[blackbartbikini]

Emmy Lou sings from the heart of this TVZ song.

[dargento2]

Emmy, apart from being the most beautiful woman of the twentieth century also had the uncanny ability to see the truth in every human drama and in her interpretation leave it right there. I can think of a few female vocalists who could be schooled by this vidio and also by everything Emylou has done. A cultural giant who will someday be regarded with Johnny Cash as an American Icon one day.

[kevindarveaux]

This Woman never ceases to amaze me . . .

[valiantplayer]

She was great in 1977. You should hear her now. Sweet and strong. Brilliant!

[cm1jrs]

She is just pure talent and golden voice.

[wilkbor]

My goodness. She is beautiful.

[PeterAlbacete]

I'll be in love forever

[martel732]

Talented, Beautiful and classy; I'm not sure in what order...

[MrBuk86]

OH! what I would give to sing with Emmylou, among other things that would be wonderful to do with her too...

[usmapiper88]

what an amazing voice. and as clear and touching now as thirty years ago.

[TheDiarmaidable]

Be jasas now but she was a babe ... an she could sing an play.... areckin.

[peachkim]

Love her version of this excellent song!

[MariusNieuwenhuizen]

EXCELENT!!!

[strictbinder]

angels just appear whenever I hear her voice!

[flatonia]

Townes has said that Nanci Griffith's cover of Tecumseh Valley is the best of any of his songs. I 'd have to say Emmylou Harris owns Pancho & Lefty in the same way.

Just beautiful!

[roadwarrior3]

If God provided THREE Wishes, Roadwarrior3 would choose:

1. Emmylou Harris 2. The Hot Band. 3. A LIFETIME FRONT ROW Seat

There are performers who deliver songs to their audience with great voices, performers who deliver songs to their audience with indescribablly moving emotions, and those few,performers like Emmylou Harris who literally "move" the entire audience to and along with their song. Roadwarrior3 gives EH and the Hot Band a TEN on a scale of 1 to 5.

[flainsfired]

@roadwarrior3 i was raised being taken to emmy concerts. hard to believe in retrospect.

[gervaise53]

@roadwarrior3

Je suis d'accord sur l'émotion sublime de la voix d'Emmylou que j'adore depuis longtemps avec passion.

Sa voix me transporte et j'ai à fois que j'écoute une chanson des frison d'intense plaisir dans le dos oui j'aime beaucoup cette merveilleuse chanteuse de country

Je suis Français nom rêve serais d'assister a un concert d' Emmylou, mais voila j'habite en France l'Amérique c'est bien loin pour Moi!

Un jour peut-être Bye

[roseofcimarron]

@gervaise53

Ca me fait plaisir de voir un compatriote connaître Emmylou.

L'album "Luxury Liner" dont est extrait ce titre est sorti presque 10 ans avant ma naissance, pourtant j'écoute Emmylou avec plaisir depuis une dizaine d'années maintenant. La video la montre à sa merilleure époque (sa voix a changée aujourd'hui), j'aurais en effet aimé la voir en concert...

Elle est passée au Bataclan à l'époque du "Ryman" (1993)...

Mais sachez qu'il existe des DVD: "Love Hurts" notamment.

[BALKISDREAMER]

if there's only one reason to live, it is to hear Emmylou Harris singing... They should have send a song of hers in the stars with Voyager, what an ambassy for the human race!

[jserra17]

Can't decide what's more beautiful, the voice or the woman behind it.

[54MURAI]

It doesn't really get much better... the best.

[memphisaviator]

this is what an angel sounds like!

[igoldstraw1]

How can anybody not like this, and yes it does bring a wee tear to the eye too..

[TheMididoc]

Magic, just pure musical magic. Emmylou has always been mesmerizing and this is her at her very best, weaving perfect musical expression with a crack ace band in tow. Deep respect to a fine American original!

[Landulphcounter]

I watched this way back then on the OGWT. As I remember she was interviewed by Bob Harris either before or after this song. I seem to remember the song had a video overlay of a bunch of Mexican bandits.

Does anyone else recall this?

[Apeal22]

She has the voice of a angel!!!:)

[Bit6string]

R.I.P Townes,, You'll forever be loved but NEVER forgotten.

[HotRodHarley93]

Who were the 4 assholes who did not like this? Their mothers whelped idiots.

[Mike82ARP]

Superb!!

[albatross7677]

She had the looks to match her voice. Beautiful

[DaMuttzNutz]

@albatross7677 She's 60-odd now and I wouldn't say 'no'. :0)

[crapitoutjim]

@DarinDillard ooops looks like I've been rumbled! Oh well at least I'll be still able to hear Emmylou in hell where I'm definitely going, coz they say that the devil has all the best tunes.

[LRooster4Prez]

Great Song

[IamPaladin]

After 33 years, she still sounds magnificent!! Well, the song is timeless. What a great story and so well done!

[CountryBoy749]

@IamPaladin The hair may be grey but she still has a beautiful voice - and a beautiful face too!

[crapitoutjim]

@derek4ur there is no such thing as god. When we go we go mate, there is no great beyond, no heaven, just sweet blackness.

[DarinDillard]

@crapitoutjim

Lol. Do you just look for people to troll? That was a couple pages back. It just seems as if you are looking for attention, ie: just looking for comments to reply to in order to show everyone that you're a cool atheist.

[212729h]

Wouldn't it have been something if she could have sung this song with Graham Parsons ? He died way to young. And I really think she still misses him . 

[VibroJon]

I'm seeing her Saturday, I only ever saw her once, in around 1977. This is a great video except all the crossfades are driving me nuts.

[ducton]

I saw her perform Pancho & Lefty live tonight - still singing like a bird - beautiful.

[michaelgenung1]

Purity of message & delivery. Awesome.

[dmichaelbush]

This is the perfect performance of the perfect song.

[zenmaster72]

love her voice, but it ain't no Townes. 

[steele917]

thank you Dear Miss Emmylou...

[raginroadrunner]

I get lost in her voice....

[popguppie]

1977 ....the year in which I saw her performing live fot the first time and since that time I'm a big fan of Emmylou. I was a teenager then and country wasn't cool at all. That first concert with The Hot Band ...one of the highlights in my life.

I hope I'll see her performing in the Netherlands again in the future.,, because she's still one of the best in the world!!

[joecburke]

My brain just doesn't accept that this is 33 years ago, her voice is stunning and just nails my heart.

[bassguitaro]

@joecburke

Well...thats the only way to say it...and 33 years ago....man...it feels like yesterday time really flies.. I had the same feelings...when I was listening for the first time to this album.

I was 17 and I bought all her albums after this one... but this one is one of my favorites .This album made me buy me first c&w guitar

I have seen here only once live here in the Netherlands...3 or 4 years ago...

I didn't sleep for a week after that .

She took a peace of my heart

[4stefan6]

Bardzo miły i subtelny głos.

[1888gp]

better than the original..............what a voice

[coastalhwy]

Her voice reminds me of a breeze through pine trees. My favorite singer of all time.

[BluezGuitarz]

She was sure pretty as a young girl with a voice like an angel; she's an even more beautiful woman now with a voice that keeps getting better - be sure to check out her 2008 version of this same song.

[Bamaboompa]

I assume in 1977 this was The Hot Band.

As great as she is writing & singing, she can put together awesome bands.

[rgadave]

@Bamaboompa

It certainly was,Rodney Crowell, Glen Hardin, Albert Lee(Leominster finest) and the rest, all fine musicians. Her band was never better !.

[jaswmfoley]

..."Zandt"....my bad.....

[jaswmfoley]

What a gift....Emmylou singing Townes Van Zant....

[melody7979]

Sweet telecaster playing and solo by Albert lee, to Emmylou's left...

[LarryNemkov]

Emmylou, There are no words to describe how I feel when I see and hear you sing. You're the Best!

[PeterAlbacete]

@LarryNemkov Yes, I know exactly what you mean. A bad day and listen to Emmylou and all is well again.

[derek4ur]

Everything she does is great. I have only heard a small number of her albums, but they are all great, and some recent.

I keep thinking that the key to understanding this tune is in the line, "all the federales say/they could have had him any day/they only let him go so long,,,out of kindness I suppose." Like God can take us from our lives at any moment but lets us stay, some of us, out of kindness, I suppose.

One possible interpretation...

[bobruff47]

how can anyone so beautiful sound so good.the total package!

[BONK6968]

My all-time favorite country tune

[steele917]

Rush forward a generation. Miss emmylou is still the epitome of "The COUNTRY GIRL" Seems the good Lord couldn't allow her beauty to slip away. Even this good lady's voice remains to bring us to the mountain tops and at the same time to tears.

[velvetunderpants44]

Neither! (enigmatic or what?!)

[jaswmfoley]

Emmylou + Townes Van Zandt, what more could one ask for?

[anad47]

 the voice and sound of the angles..enjoy heaven

[Mygrassisblue01]

this is the kind of music I will hear up in heaven when I am dead and gone from the world.......EmmyLou is an angle

[ericnfan]

such a wonderful voice. I also like her songs of last cheater's waltz and two more bottles of wine.

[sylvesterocean]

There just isn't anyone else that comes close to Emmy Lou!

[54MURAI]

@sylvesterocean There are plenty of people who come CLOSE. But that is as near as they get . . .

[Th3Shiv]

@sylvesterocean Townes van zandt the actual writer of this song does

[halburg3]

What a singer and a great video. Rodney Crowell on guitar to her left.

[BlShkspr]

@halburg3 Rodney is on her RIGHT...Guitar to her LEFT....Albert Lee

[dlrowell1]

No disrespect to TVZ, but this is the best recording of this song ever made; this gal sings (and looks) like an angel!

[dropdowndog]

I love the way Emory Gordy and John Ware establish the tempo at 1:00, totally ignoring Emmylou's very slow starting tempo (okay, dragging tempo). Note Gordy turned towards Ware and Albert turned towards Gordy. They do the same thing on Tulsa Queen, next in this set. To Emmylou's credit, she acts as if she doesn't even notice the band has picked things up a bit.

[take2vidio1]

great song

[ExarKenneth71]

WOW!!!!!!

[condorscuba07]

Looks like Susan Day in this video.

[16ginger555]

I was lucky enough to see ELM several times live in London backed by the fantastic HOT BAND and they were HOT.

Many very happy memories of those days, ELM is truly a ONE OFF.

I have the recording on video of this Old Grey WT still, sad the OGWT is long gone now.

Thanks for posting these GREAT SONGS.

[munkiman23]

My favourite female vocalist. Her voice is really special and I think the first time u hear it you realise that even if u not a fan!

[pyrofella]

Magic

[Hearingspec]

Think about if you will... just how unique is this lady?