+Duder807 throw in codeine and bali-hai wine then you got this man living the high life. Maybe a silly young girl, gun, and a dog would top things off to the point that he would need nothing else.
Townes Van Zandt is the greatest songwriter that ever lived and I'll stand up on Bob Dylan's coffee table with my cowboy boots on and say so. - Steve Earle
@@jonathanwortley1643 yes I absolutely agree with that and it is so sad to know that Justin Townes Earle Steve Earle son passed away of a drug overdose a few months ago and I just learned it so sad
I heard him tell this story saying that he had no ID and they asked him "Don't you have anything with your picture on it?" He said, "Well, uh, yeah... here's something." And he handed them an album with Poncho and Lefty on it. Townes was always looking for better ways to tell a story. I had an uncle who said, "Never let the truth get in the way of a good story." I think Townes might well have agreed with him.
Different story. That was up in Dallas, and the same weekend he wrote the song. Billy Graham was in town and Townes and his hippie buddy got pulled over. His buddy had a 13-years-expired Georgia DL. Townes had a copy of one of his albums. This story seems to take place after that one (after the record was released), and the passengers and details are quite different.
I heard John Prine say, songwriting is figuring out what doesn't belong and taking it out, leaving only what belongs. Some people maybe get too cute, some people think too much, and some people (me) just don't have it. But I agree, there's so many great stories we all have to tell. If we were all great songwriters, we'd probably only like our own songs!
Townes Van Zandt at his prime level of information distribution. I got to have a one on one talk and had him sign a song book of his that I own. He even spelled a word wrong. What an artist. I do miss him.
Townes was a man that liked to mess with peoples heads about certain crap, like the origin of his songs! God Bless thae Artist and may he rest in peace.
I'm so glad I got to see this interview. I always listened to songs like Pancho and Lefty and they seemed to me like real writing. Pancho and Lefty's a real good song.
This man is so underrated.n one knows his humble contributions to music.a troubled soul with the guts to put it in writing and music.they profited he just lived his life out..thank you and you will rest in peace knowing what you have done. 🇺🇸
Great interview. Some songs come from a Holy place, and songwriters are just the channel. He stood straight up like a lightning rod, walking threw a stormy life, waiting to be touched by electricity ⚡️
Townes used to frequent Leo's Mexican Restaurant in Houston over on Shepherd in Montrose. Leo's grandfather rode with Poncho and had pictures on the wall and would talk your ears off. Not to mention pictures of ZZ Top and all sorts of others famous people. This was my favorite Mexican place.
"Living 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." Just one example of the brilliant lyrics of this song. Townes was a genius.
Cool story! Very modest to say the song came through him. Perhaps it did but he had to have the natural talent to pick it up. Too bad that his life ended so soon -- he never got to enjoy his fame.
Mandolin1944 Evidently you are not intelligent enough to realize how absurd your statement really is. Do you not realize this is a form of prejudice ? Can you determine the guilt of a accused murderer by the color of his/her skin ? How tall is a felon ? What does a child molester look like ? Seriously where do people like you get such ideas ? Don't bother to answer. I really was just wondering if you realized the absurdity of your statement and sadly you do
Mandolin1944 You posted a comment on a public forum. Do you know what that means ? It means that others such as myself have as much right to comment as you. Don't make such comments if you don't like to be called out on them genius
Mandolin1944 Evidently that one line comment go you confused and you had to do a rewrite. Brilliant comeback LOL ! I never for a moment expected more. To stand by your previous comment only serves to show what kind of person you are. No surprise
Well, if "Veteran" is down by Hearne this weekend, he might enjoy this, and cruise on over to Brenham, and pickup some ice cream. I like Emmy Lou's version best, but Townes and Willie did quite well by Pancho and Lefty.
Jimmie Dale Gilmore has lot of Townes' pieces he 'covers'--is that the term for pickin' up another guy's piece and doing it your way? But, I always wanted to know what Townes was like and the aura Jimmie gave him led me to believe he'd be, I don't know, some classical art song writer. What a delight to learn that isn't so.
Yep, especially if they're sensitive as well, that's the dangerous combination. His story is very sad, struggled with depression and addiction for decades
Pancho and Lefty was for sale at Sky Blue studios in Sonoma California in 1973. The song was sold by Chris Hackney owner of the studio at 128 4th Street. The problem with junkies is they lie and they steal.
Well I’ve heard that song no less than a couple of thousand times . And played it , one night in a shit birt town in Oklahoma me snd my friend Rick Boyett are picking and kickin , we was plenty high and Rick looks at me and he says you know Lefty was a rat don’t ya? I said what in the world are you talking about . He said he ratted Pancho out set him up for the kill . The federates got Lefty beat him up pretty good and told him if you give us Pancho we’re gonna get you a bus tickets to your folks place in Ohio put you up in a nice room for the night you can get cleaned up get a good dinner and catch the bus at 9am back for Ohio. And if you don’t tell us where Pancho is your gonna meet your maker right here in this Sonoran dessert . What’s it gonna be Lefty? Lord it’s tough how Pancho fell and Lefty’s livin in a cheap hotel . The dust that Pancho are down south ended up in Lefty’s mouth . Say a prayer for Lefty too , He only did what he had to do, and now he’s growin old. I said “ Damn I’ve heard that song and played it no less than a couple of thousand times . I never made that connection . Now when I hear it that’s all I can think of and , you can hear it a little more clear i when Townes sings it. Rest in Peace Townes
@@craigbritton1089 funny how out of the entire text and realization you only gravitated to that one line . That wasn’t the point of this story and as someone that can count on one hand the number of times in my life in which I got high. I can honestly say to you sir” only God can judge me”I’m not sure if your intent to try spin this post into a negative light or that negativity is just a go to to make yourself feel you are so extremely superior to the rest of the world . I hope that you get some sort of satisfaction , because to me you come across as , with all due respect “a dick” shut up stupid
Van Zandt: "I realize that I wrote it but it's hard to take credit for the writing because it came [motions hands skywards] out of the blue. It was like it came [motions hands top to bottom of his body down] through me."
* John 1:3 - All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. * Colossians 1:16 - For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.
In 1976 there was a restaurant/bar in Austin, just off Burnet Road called Minnesota Mining Company. We went there late one evening for a nightcap and a little music--they always had some unknown local to entertain. He was tall, slim and a great singer. If I heard his name that evening it meant nothing to me at the time. But in retrospect I've always thought it was Townes Van Zandt.
Can somebody PLEASE tell me who the second person he says recorded it is. I can't make out the name through his accent and it's the second time I've heard him mention that name (the first being Roadsongs recording of Cocaine Blues).
![Townes Van Zandt - Pancho & Lefty (Live in Austin, 1975) [RESTORED FOOTAGE]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/m9trdd3kFwc/mqdefault.jpg)
![Townes Van Zandt - Pancho & Lefty (Live in Austin, 1975) [RESTORED FOOTAGE]](/img/tr.png)
Money never meant a thing to this man. Music was always his reason for living. Bless his soul.
+Duder807 throw in codeine and bali-hai wine then you got this man living the high life. Maybe a silly young girl, gun, and a dog would top things off to the point that he would need nothing else.
+Robert M He was born into money and inherited oil money
deboisblanc but how does that relate to what I said?
Like Jimmy Buffet?
I had read that he had a quarter mil in the bank when he died.
Townes Van Zandt is the greatest songwriter that ever lived and I'll stand up on Bob Dylan's coffee table with my cowboy boots on and say so. - Steve Earle
Steve and Townes are my absolute favorite singer/song writer/story tellers. You have great taste in music.
@@jonathanwortley1643 yes I absolutely agree with that and it is so sad to know that Justin Townes Earle Steve Earle son passed away of a drug overdose a few months ago and I just learned it so sad
@@jonathanwortley1643 Ta
Townes response was "I've seen Dylan's bodyguards and Steve would never get close to his coffee table." He had such a great sense of humor.
@@jonathanwortley1643 Steve's niece does a gorgeous Townes cover on here. ua-cam.com/video/WaP_t0oDpy0/v-deo.html
I heard him tell this story saying that he had no ID and they asked him "Don't you have anything with your picture on it?" He said, "Well, uh, yeah... here's something." And he handed them an album with Poncho and Lefty on it. Townes was always looking for better ways to tell a story. I had an uncle who said, "Never let the truth get in the way of a good story." I think Townes might well have agreed with him.
"Never let the truth get in the way of a good yarn" if you came to Ireland you'd hear that at least once a day! RIP to your Uncle.
Townes is telling several yarns here, and I’m ok with it.
Different story. That was up in Dallas, and the same weekend he wrote the song. Billy Graham was in town and Townes and his hippie buddy got pulled over. His buddy had a 13-years-expired Georgia DL. Townes had a copy of one of his albums.
This story seems to take place after that one (after the record was released), and the passengers and details are quite different.
My dad always says this, and he’s a man of his word (and soooo many TALL stories, lol. Dad is 88, but still kick in the ass funny 😁
Truly great songs like this are just meant to be. They are in the air just waiting to be written, but I'm glad this man wrote it.
I heard John Prine say, songwriting is figuring out what doesn't belong and taking it out, leaving only what belongs. Some people maybe get too cute, some people think too much, and some people (me) just don't have it. But I agree, there's so many great stories we all have to tell. If we were all great songwriters, we'd probably only like our own songs!
@@bigrig4385 - Michelangelo said that about sculpting David. "It is easy. I just chip away the stone that doesn't look like David."
Ive said that for a long time. Art already exists; it just picks an artist to make itself known.
I always thaught this to be true..I have no idea where my songs come from.
One of the best songwriters that ever lived right here.
this guy is such a poet there is not very many people like him
Townes is and always will be an incredible musician in our hearts.
Townes Van Zandt at his prime level of information distribution. I got to have a one on one talk and had him sign a song book of his that I own. He even spelled a word wrong. What an artist. I do miss him.
+Greg King (Biscuit) Man that's awesome! He died a few months before I was born. Weird to think about that
Out of curiosity what was the message he wrote you and which word did he misspell?
Wow. I’d pay ransom for that.
@@iHeartCoolStuff He wrote, Greg Nice to meat you take care Townes Van Zandt. Then he marked through the a and put an e above it.
10/7/89
The dust that poncho bit down south,
Ended up in Lefty's mouth.
Townes was a man that liked to mess with peoples heads about certain crap, like the origin of his songs! God Bless thae Artist and may he rest in peace.
So did Dylan.
Such a genius with such humble attitude, amazing artist.
I'm so glad I got to see this interview. I always listened to songs like Pancho and Lefty and they seemed to me like real writing. Pancho and Lefty's a real good song.
Ah Townes... come back again. Can't make it without you...
I hope your doing alright Joe. Keep fighting the fight and never quit
This man is so underrated.n one knows his humble contributions to music.a troubled soul with the guts to put it in writing and music.they profited he just lived his life out..thank you and you will rest in peace knowing what you have done. 🇺🇸
I put him in the same camp as Warren Zevon. Both died too soon.
Well said
"Those two guys...I hope I never, ever see em' again."
Hahaha. Great punch line,
I could listen to him all day long... And never know if a single thing he said actually happened!
My late brother loved this pathetic soul and now I know why
R I P Townes and Tony
He sure could tell a story.
This gentleman wrote and sang some of the best cry in your beer tunes . Seen him only once in the ‘70s in Gunnison Colorado.
I bet Gunnison was a different place back then.
Music and the Word transcends time and space.
Great interview. Some songs come from a Holy place, and songwriters are just the channel. He stood straight up like a lightning rod, walking threw a stormy life, waiting to be touched by electricity ⚡️
Verdades! Eu acredito nisso. Músicos são instrumentos.
The musicians phenomenon of having a song beamed through them.....I know what that's like. Intense hearing Townes speak of it, too.
What a great storyteller, all great song writer are..damn Townes, why did you go and die.....
Richard Mclain Amazing story!
Townes used to frequent Leo's Mexican Restaurant in Houston over on Shepherd in Montrose. Leo's grandfather rode with Poncho and had pictures on the wall and would talk your ears off. Not to mention pictures of ZZ Top and all sorts of others famous people. This was my favorite Mexican place.
This guy. How can you not love him?
That’s one of the great songs of our era. I wish I’d written it.
I butcher it at karaoke all the time.
This was a real treat to watch and listen to. Thank you for posting it.
I really appreciated hearing HIM talk about it.
"Living 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."
Just one example of the brilliant lyrics of this song. Townes was a genius.
Thank for this excellent post ! Gives us a glimpse into the mind of a genious song writer musisian. RIP Townes ❤
fond memories of dylan and towns being together in Austin for a spell, those were some heady days and heavy nites......
I bet he could tell great stories all day
Bless his heart & soul
Kinda crazy how I like townes version waaaaaay more. What an OG. It is what it is
That story deserves to be made into a song
Yeah, I'd love to see that re-enacted in a movie, it would be a beautiful moment!
All I do is listen to Townes
Wow!!! Crazy how things in life are connected and obviously sent from above 💕
How do you know they’re not sent from below?
😃😃😃
All song writers say that the songs were always there and that they just receive them from somewhere else.
It’s basically a philosophy derived from Plato. 2500 years ago, you can look that up.
Mixer man Bear, you know what you just said might as well be lyrics for Pancho and Lefty!
"Inspiration" ...artists get inspired.
Amazing insight into a complicated man's way of thinking
I have always loved that song.
PSA: if you’ve never heard him sing this song, stop what you’re doing and listen to it. IDGAF what kind of music you like, this is a GREAT show.
This song was a gift.
This interview...I've got something in my eye...
I love this man.
He reminds me of my grandpa boy could he tell a story.
That's out there, way out there!
He had one of the best angels assigned to him.
+Mark Duwe That would have been one stressed out angel who's probably still in therapy.
ha ha he hhe he...
@@cleopete1 witty, Cleopete
🤮🤮🤮
Divine songwriting ...Songs just got it...
+D'Arcy Proulx Pancho and Lefty was originally a Bob Dylan song
Wrong.
+John McMillan Bob Dylan wrote a lot of good songs, But this is Towne,s song and there is no doubt about it.
D'Arcy Proulx ? Two words: " Albert Hammond ". sláinte! have a nice Thursday ;-)
Great story, thanks for the post.
What a story! Bless you Townes...
Ah this is Great :-)
Cool story! Very modest to say the song came through him. Perhaps it did but he had to have the natural talent to pick it up. Too bad that his life ended so soon -- he never got to enjoy his fame.
Mandolin1944
Evidently you are not intelligent enough to realize how absurd your statement really is. Do you not realize this is a form of prejudice ? Can you determine the guilt of a accused murderer by the color of his/her skin ? How tall is a felon ? What does a child molester look like ? Seriously where do people like you get such ideas ? Don't bother to answer. I really was just wondering if you realized the absurdity of your statement and sadly you do
Mandolin1944 You posted a comment on a public forum. Do you know what that means ? It means that others such as myself have as much right to comment as you. Don't make such comments if you don't like to be called out on them genius
Mandolin1944
Evidently that one line comment go you confused and you had to do a rewrite. Brilliant comeback LOL ! I never for a moment expected more. To stand by your previous comment only serves to show what kind of person you are. No surprise
Mandolin1944
You certainly know how to double down on stupid. Get off your dads computer kid before he comes home and kicks your butt.
Well, if "Veteran" is down by Hearne this weekend, he might enjoy this, and cruise on over to Brenham, and pickup some ice cream. I like Emmy Lou's version best, but Townes and Willie did quite well by Pancho and Lefty.
What a great story.
great video. Thank you.from Eve G.San Rafael Ca.
Jimmie Dale Gilmore has lot of Townes' pieces he 'covers'--is that the term for pickin' up another guy's piece and doing it your way? But, I always wanted to know what Townes was like and the aura Jimmie gave him led me to believe he'd be, I don't know, some classical art song writer. What a delight to learn that isn't so.
I know I'm late to the party, but that is a great story.
Thanks for sharing.
Great story !
Damn these geniuses have gnarly demons that they battle.
Yep, especially if they're sensitive as well, that's the dangerous combination. His story is very sad, struggled with depression and addiction for decades
Love it...🎵❤️❤️❤️🎶👍
Pancho and Lefty was for sale at Sky Blue studios in Sonoma California in 1973. The song was sold by Chris Hackney owner of the studio at 128 4th Street. The problem with junkies is they lie and they steal.
I think at the time of the account, the speed limit was 55 mph.
T.VZ. looked like A.P. Carter and Johnny Cash. Sounded Like Tubbs and Williams. An Original for the moderne days
10/28/23,,,Cool interview and story i missed.
She look in love
He's the most handsome man to ever exist
Terriffic story. Townes is the man. A little under weight here but heavy on talent. God bless TEXAS!!
Townes was an unknown legend...ask EmyLou, Merle, Willie or Dylan. Lucky them !!
Well I’ve heard that song no less than a couple of thousand times . And played it , one night in a shit birt town in Oklahoma me snd my friend Rick Boyett are picking and kickin , we was plenty high and Rick looks at me and he says you know Lefty was a rat don’t ya? I said what in the world are you talking about . He said he ratted Pancho out set him up for the kill . The federates got Lefty beat him up pretty good and told him if you give us Pancho we’re gonna get you a bus tickets to your folks place in Ohio put you up in a nice room for the night you can get cleaned up get a good dinner and catch the bus at 9am back for Ohio. And if you don’t tell us where Pancho is your gonna meet your maker right here in this Sonoran dessert . What’s it gonna be Lefty?
Lord it’s tough how Pancho fell and Lefty’s livin in a cheap hotel . The dust that Pancho are down south ended up in Lefty’s mouth . Say a prayer for Lefty too , He only did what he had to do, and now he’s growin old. I said “ Damn I’ve heard that song and played it no less than a couple of thousand times . I never made that connection . Now when I hear it that’s all I can think of and , you can hear it a little more clear i when Townes sings it. Rest in Peace Townes
Getting high does not help understand lyrics; even as it makes the music indelible
@@craigbritton1089 funny how out of the entire text and realization you only gravitated to that one line . That wasn’t the point of this story and as someone that can count on one hand the number of times in my life in which I got high. I can honestly say to you sir” only God can judge me”I’m not sure if your intent to try spin this post into a negative light or that negativity is just a go to to make yourself feel you are so extremely superior to the rest of the world . I hope that you get some sort of satisfaction , because to me you come across as , with all due respect “a dick” shut up stupid
Surprising to see this footage I'm named after him for my middle name
I love his version
You can't make this shit up! TVZ....A true great one!
Brilliance.
Emma Lou Harris, with her angelic voice has recorded this better than anyone
Hes a good old Dutchman
Love it.
Junior Brown has a very similar story about getting pulled over. Unreal, almost…
It’s go time :)
Townes is the best!
He looked like (young) Abraham Lincoln if Abraham Lincoln was Hot AF
More like another tormented soul Hank Williams
Van Zandt: "I realize that I wrote it but it's hard to take credit for the writing because it came [motions hands skywards] out of the blue. It was like it came [motions hands top to bottom of his body down] through me."
* John 1:3 - All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
* Colossians 1:16 - For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.
interesting person...I didn't know who this guy was... but I had heard the name...
🌠
wow, this is good
0:43 - 0:58 STRONG!!!!!!!
Beautifully humble
I died watching this. In a good way
In 1976 there was a restaurant/bar in Austin, just off Burnet Road called Minnesota Mining Company. We went there late one evening for a nightcap and a little music--they always had some unknown local to entertain. He was tall, slim and a great singer. If I heard his name that evening it meant nothing to me at the time. But in retrospect I've always thought it was Townes Van Zandt.
Where was that? I forget.
For those who love the story songs of Townes, dig into Willie Vlautin's bands Richmond Fontaine and The Delines. They are special and under rated
Realness
He got pulled over by a song he wrote.
🎇
He didn't write it at his place in Austin?
Dedicated to the Burton County Police Dept.
And the Department of Redundancy Dept...
sorry but my version has poncho escaping to ohio with the money and living his life as lefty.
Good story!
Can somebody PLEASE tell me who the second person he says recorded it is. I can't make out the name through his accent and it's the second time I've heard him mention that name (the first being Roadsongs recording of Cocaine Blues).
Hoyt Axton?
Hoyt Axton also put out a wonderful psych-country record called “my griffin is gone”
Hoyt Axton
Cool story bro.
Funny!
💟
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