Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard -- Pancho & Lefty [REVIEW]

[@wadeburns9805]

I read that Willie's daughter introduced him to the song one night at his golf course and when he heard it, he went and woke up Merle, who was asleep there, to cut it right then. Merle did one take and went back to sleep. The next morning, Merle told Willie he wanted another crack at the song but Willie said they'd already sent it off. A true testament to Merle's amazing ability as a singer. Love this song!

[@RockN2Country]

@Wade Burns That's one of those stories that you hope is true just because it's so awesome!

[@debifambro1039]

Merle is telling the story in a video where he sings the song with his son the youngest one... Ben?

[@jodyparrish637]

Townes Van Zandt was an unbelievable songsmith

[@lilymcallister9751]

Yes he was. RIP Townes.

[@thespecialneedsgroup]

Never really got his due.

[@sudsoverspill4484]

When i finally got to Townes it was Amazing to me how good he was, took me years to find him. A Music Lover and Guitar player mysef i'm so lucky to find him. Townes never did get the recognition he Deserved but it's Simply because Townes wouldn't play the Music Bullshit Stardom Game.

[@xScooterAZx]

Always makes me cry. Two precious artists together/

[@loriwilliams5381]

They couldn't catch him. Lefty gave him up for the reward money and skipped town. You should watch the video, it plays out the story beautifully .

[@kathlelan]

Actually, I believe it took me a long time to understand "out of kindness I suppose". The Federales couldn't catch Poncho. But they didn't want to admit defeat. The line is meant to be somewhat sarcastic. Then, Lefty got the bread to go because he turned his partner in for the reward money, leading to a lonely life in Ohio, probably full of guilt. He betrayed Poncho. RIP Townes VanZandt. Look him up. He wrote wonderful songs and there is a backstory to the Poncho and Lefty tale.

[@kevinterrell47]

Townes Van Zandt words are so beautiful and he was a true wordsmith. the lyrics that get me were " His horse was fast as polished steel" and " wear your skin like iron and your breath as hard as kerosene " WOW this is such a story also about Lefty selling Poncho out it is a true country song it's the story.

[@lilymcallister9751]

My favorite country/western song! I've heard better versions from Waylon and Willie but this is great. Thank you for including it. Whenever I get drunk, I sing this. It's my drunk-song. Lol

[@brianmasinelli9694]

Me too...

[@xScooterAZx]

I've never heard Waylom singthis with Willie.

[@DrWendelRay]

Great Hag & Willie song, thanks for playing it!

[@TexasMagnolia]

This was the original album of Willie. This was the theme of the album. The best album willie ever recorded. Ray Charles is on this album with Seven Spanish Angles.

[@michaeltodd5820]

It’s interesting because it was written by Townes Van Zandt. All his songs were interesting.

[@YachtMaestro]

This one is another that's in my "Needs the video to fully appreciate". Tells the story of Pancho, an elderly bandito that has grown so old that the Mexican police feel sorry for him... and Lefty, the bounty hunter that finally comes to collect on him... And later in his own old age, lives to regret it. A HUGELY moving video!

[@brianmasinelli9694]

When Merle comes in at the bridge it brings this great song to a whole new level

[@s.a.adams-ford1216]

You choose the best rendition.

[@Josh-mg7rm]

My favorote song of all time. I like Van Zandts version better but this hold more memories then a hauling train can carry.

[@sabbyvk424]

Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard "It's All Going To Pot" One of their last duets, but definitely wasn't a disappointment!! Gotta love their blunt truth opinion in this one!! 🤣

[@themaninblack993]

great video! Great song! Great singers!

[@kristeb74]

One of my Mom's favorite songs. Thank you

[@justme7566]

There is no way to pick this song apart. Only a way to listen and feel it.

[@JosephVice]

Bro the song is about Lefty selling out Poncho causing his death. and growing old with that burden of betraying Poncho.

[@warrenburlingame7087]

Two legends

[@scottweindegher]

💔😢Bye Merle may u rip🙏

[@timshelley8635]

Great reaction video! Thanks for doing it. It was written by Townes Van Zant, still my favorite version. This is very good, with legends singing, but over produced in my opinion. You should try something by Townes himself.

[@RockN2Country]

@Tim Shelley I’ve done a few of Townes’s songs-just type “Townes” into the search bar on the channel and they’ll all come up for you.

[@carolinemackenziemacdonald1157]

great couple of singers those two and agree with what you say - xx

[@partydew1]

Have to listen to it a couple times.. to realize what is being said.

[@demon_3x]

Townes Van Zandt wrote the song, but there’s an album called Poncho and Lefty and it’s all Merle & Willie doing songs together

[@Lonely_Goat]

Heard this song years about 15 years ago but only caught the corus and I couldn't find it anywhere. But now it's one of my favorite tracks of all time. N

[@markpowell7071]

I didn't know as much as you diciphered , but I've loved the song , since long before I was gray !

[@Marshallscott38]

Willie is good but Townes did it best since he wrote it.

[@brianbridges7150]

Would love to see you react to Willie's duet with Ray Charles "Seven Spanish Angels" amazing song by both artists.

[@RockN2Country]

@Brian Bridges I did that one about a year ago or so.

[@blancaquinonez4393]

They couldn't catch Pancho he as very smart him and zapata till the very end

[@eddieosteen2134]

Gotta watch the video to really get it best

[@wheelmanstan]

I heard that Willie heard this sung by Emmie Lou and he ran over the Merle, who he'd just finished recording some songs in the studio with, and told him "we gotta record this song!" That tells you how good the song is.

[@Lonely_Goat]

Sailing to philadelphia is another great song

[@melodyrainguet479]

Lefty turned poncho in for the reward money, that’s when he went to Ohio! Figure it out...

[@eddieosteen2134]

Blue eyes crying in the rain by Willie Nelson is different if you watched the movie but is cool in a dark way lol

[@RockN2Country]

@eddie osteen Welcome to the channel! I got you covered on Willie's rendition of "Blue Eyes Cryin' in the Rain." Here's the link---enjoy! kzbin.info/www/bejne/j4bUiJ9jr9-MZq8

[@757optim]

@RockN2Country Willie was a very successful songwriter, but as a singer had had limited success until Blue Eyes. This song became his first #1 hit and the rest, as they say, is history. Ironically, Willie didn't write this one. It was written in 1945 by Fred Rose. Whatever lights your rocket, I reckon. : )

[@frankscarborough1428]

Thanks love the song

[@frankscarborough1428]

Watching this again it's a great poignant song

[@williamadams5560]

Actually, Willie has said that it's misconstrued about them, poncho was Lefty's older brother, he gave his horse to his little brother and stopped to let the posse catch him while Lefty got away with the money.

[@reddhead2948]

The video implies that Lefty ratted Pancho out

[@GermanShepherdsRule7042]

Watch the actual video it explains the song better. Lefty, turned Pancho in amd used the money to split for Ohio. They were friends.

[@freakylizard9699]

Lefty gave up Pancho, grew old, felt guilty, did what he had to do.

[@thebackyardbear]

There is the story being told in a literal sense... that's fine enough... but the deeper story told through symbolism is much better.

[@Insignificatos]

Excellent Comment

[@whocares43003]

I always felt that poncho and lefty were on the run and the police were chasing them so long that when they killed poncho they let lefty get away out of remorse. Also it says thay poncho was on leftys mount when he was running so maybe poncho gave lefty the horse that was "fast as polished steal" knowing that one of them could get away.

[@GaOutlawVinyl]

This was written by Townes Van Zandt. He said it was about two Mexican bandits he saw in a western two weeks after he wrote it.

[@Acoustic_strings]

Not sure if you have done this one as I haven't gone through all your videos yet, but if not try El Paso by Marty Robbins. Amazing old story song

[@RockN2Country]

Hey James, I haven't done that one by Marty yet, but I'll eventually get tot hat one or another by Marty. The list is long right now, so feel free to throw me an occasional reminder. Thanks again!

[@jerrymoadj.r.1911]

When u get a chance watch the music video for it

[@flowers1038]

I love this channel so much. :) -Rachel

[@RockN2Country]

Thank you, Rachel!! This inspires me and I'll be thinking about you from time to time while recording my reactions!!

[@marywise7418]

lefty his side kick turned him in for the money.thats how he got the bread to get to ohio

[@swartwoodart2558]

I always took it (perhaps wrong) that Lefty was the lawman who killed Pancho. He "did what he had to do" and he was the match that Pancho met. Lefty didn't like killing him, so he faded away, but also needs your prayers. I see from the other comments that I may be the only one who saw it this way.

[@Shari225]

I never thought the federates let him go out of kindness. I felt that the federates simply gave an excuse because they messed up. Or perhaps it was sarcasm. Probably that.

[@cathyhodges8613]

Would love it if you would do some Marty Robbins.

[@RockN2Country]

@Cathy Hodges Oh yes, I’ve done a few of Marty’s songs. Just type “Marty” into the search bar on my channel and they’ll all come up for you. Have fun!

[@757optim]

The Federalis are BSing to cover their failure to catch Pancho. The singer/narrator says, "out of kindness I suppose" sarcastically. Pancho's amigo Lefty played the role of Judas - perhaps in a deal to win his own freedom(?); "He only did what he had to do". So, "The day they laid poor Pancho low, Lefty split for Ohio. Where he got the bread to go, there ain't nobody knows." "Pancho needs your prayers it's true, but save a few for Lefty too"

[@greasyunionguy7761]

Try townes van zandt. He wrote this. I like snowing on raton. He's all good tho

[@jdturner1969]

Listen to Loving County by Charlie Robison

[@Kyle899]

Have you done Townes Van Zant's version? Very raw and real

[@jerrymoadj.r.1911]

Bad ass ty on 2 facebook

[@guyprince895]

About Pancho Villa. They did kill him...recall the line in the song..."the day they laid ol' Pancho low" referring to his burial. If you watch the video it will make more sense.

[@cswrel]

you keep outdoing a self bro!!!!

[@weslennon3425]

#Don, if you want to know more about this song, there is an abbreviated video of the songwriter Townes Van Zandt, it's dated and poor quality, but you'll get a gist of why and how it was written. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nWTFd3SrqrqYjrc

[@myviewmjs3632]

Pancho died lefty left him.

[@areamatt1598]

Speaking of covers and Willie Nelson, how about a review of Willie's song She's Not For You by Mark Lanegan? kzbin.info/www/bejne/rqTVhGmrlMuoa7s

[@ChrisLascari]

Did you even listen to it? You got it all wrong!

[@Headstones2013]

Worst version of this song ever...

[@RockN2Country]

@Headstones2013 I might get around to doing it again at some point. You have a good rec on a live version?

[@Headstones2013]

@@RockN2Country kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKHVg41orKuEepY Townes Van Zant, Live at some old guys house... Just him and his guitar...

[@Headstones2013]

Not sure what Willie and Merle were thinking... lol

[@RockN2Country]

@Headstones2013 Thinking, or drinking? Ha!!

[@Headstones2013]

@@RockN2Country I don't think they drank enough lol... not a huge country fan, especially the mainstream stuff ... but I do like your channel!