Townes Van Zandt - Pancho and Lefty. Heartworn Highways REACTION!!

[@wilcross50]

"Townes Van Zandt is the best songwriter in the whole world, and I'll stand on Bob Dylan's coffee table in my cowboy boots and say that." -Steve Earle

[@Carbonnothingbutcarbon]

Steve was right.

[@robertreichle1]

He's got some great stuff, but let's not get carried away. Dylan is Dylan. He shouldn't be in the conversation when comparing artists. He's his own conversation.

[@HisboiLRoi]

Admittedly Townes did not have the depth of catalogue as Dylan, but he could match him song by song.

[@lukasw689]

"I've met Bob Dylan's bodyguards, and if Steve Earle thinks he can stand on Bob Dylan's coffee table, he's sadly mistaken." -Townes Van Zandt

[@matthewzuckerman6267]

Steve talked about that quote recently. He said that at the time he hadn't quite appreciated how Dylan had "created my job", but that Townes needed the praise more than Dylan.

[@michaelloveland1330]

We can also go to the level of Pancho was sentenced to death, while Lefty served a life sentence of misery and guilt. Townes made us see many aspects of life that need to be examined. Out of kindness, I suppose.

[@coy0te9]

And always for the sake of the song.

[@rd3095]

Please do 'waitin round to die' the old black man from this videos crys like a baby its beautiful.

[@DaisyMae0929]

This song is TVZ's most famous song but "Waitin' Around to Die" will get to one any day. She'll have to bring a few tissues with her if she listens to that one!

[@SexyAlien2]

One of my favorite video on youtube.

[@flatblack39]

I cry every time I watch it. It is beautiful to see the young gals hand on his old tough blacksmith hands sharing a special moment.

[@diggerdame4709]

Yes! It's a real tear-jerker

[@brianharrisable]

It's such a shame he screws up the words.

[@GaOutlawVinyl]

Thank you for doing this. Townes doesn’t get the credit he deserves as a singer/songwriter. You should check out his best friend and mentor Guy Clark. His Song Let Him Roll is just as moving.

[@V8trickshot]

“Now you wear your skin like iron” god damm what a writer

[@NxDoyle]

I never met Townes, he was long gone before I moved to America. But I did have the privilege of spending some time with one of Townes' best friends Rex (Wrecks) Bell, former bass player for Lightnin' Hopkins and the man largely responsible for his attempts to ensure Townes' legacy. Wrecks runs (ran?) The Old Quarter Acoustic Cafe in Galveston, the name itself a tribute to Townes' legendary appearances at the Old Quarter in Houston. I heard some stories, which I'll keep hold of.

[@mranster]

I had a feeling you'd put that together, that Lefty betrayed his friend. I listened to this song for years and never got that until I read it somewhere. Man, Townes had such a way with a phrase. "The dust that Pancho bit down south ended up in Lefty's mouth."

[@Gutslinger]

Did she though?

[@subg8858]

Lefty sold him out "how he got the bread to go, ain't nobody knows"

[@dr.burtgummerfan439]

Always wondered if they were brothers,("you weren't your mama's only son") and Lefty sold him him out because of his life of crime, which was breaking their mother's heart as well as causing innocent people to suffer. "He only did what he had to do".

[@williammcginnis7772]

"The dust that Poncho bit down South Ended up in Lefty's mouth" the regret from doing so left him singing no more

[@Carbonnothingbutcarbon]

Townes Van Zandt was one of the greatest songwriters ever. Check out “Waiting Around to Die” and “Nothin’”.

[@flatblack39]

And John Pine. "Sam Stone"

[@zenhaelcero8481]

John and Townes were both some of the greats.

[@mirojugum1339]

And "Marie".

[@brettnheather]

Thank you. More Townes VanZandt please.

[@raycope2086]

Fantastic India! The world should be more aware of this wonderful guy. Emmylou Harris, in my opinion does the best version. Love you sweetie and I wish you rainbows.

[@gwag8410]

Listen to the one he did after that... Waiting Around To Die..

[@johnow7]

Watch him perform Waiting Around To Die during the same session and make that old man in the background cry.

[@mookie7688]

Does that have their conversation about how God likes people drinking, as long as they don't drink too much? That clip is epic.

[@zepiuulos]

Should check out "Waiting Around To Die" and "Dead Flowers" by him

[@dichter331]

I Support "Dead Flowers" :)

[@K3VYK3V1]

..his version of dead flowers is hauntingly beautiful!

[@berdnikov]

The Be Good Tanyas did a great cover of "Waiting Around to Die".

[@flatblack39]

Waitin around to die next! This video and many others with Townes are from the video Heartworn Highways also on youtube. Well it was. Well worth a watch!

[@lazarograna8820]

dead flowers is a cover though its a rolling stones original

[@andrewbittle6854]

Thanks for this one, Mr. Van Zandt is a mostly overlooked genius. if you liked this. I'd recommend listening to the song Tecumseh Valley sung bay Nanci Griffith. Which is also written by by Townes Van Zandt.

[@timgraff7398]

Andre Bottle. A great cover by Nancy. Saw her a few years ago. Loved the show but was disappointed she didn't do Tecumseh Valley.

[@sixpakshaker88]

Guy Clark, "Desperadoes Waiting for a Train."

[@shirleykelly9971]

Townes Van Zant is a prolific songwriter and has written countless hits mostly that other people have recorded Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard made this song iconic although several other singers recorded it

[@gorey4more837]

Wow! No one ever reacts to Townes! The greatest songwriter that ever lived! Bless you, girl. Thank you!

[@gorhajm]

This is one of his more happy songs, my favorite song of his are waiting around to die, catfish song, and nothin

[@robertschneider1977]

I'm so glad you gave Townes Van Zant some love. I love the Willie Nelson version too, but Townes gets lost by some as the magnificent songwriter he is. People see the artists that sing his songs and not him.

[@BlackJar72]

I'll admit I remember this song from the radio when I was a child ... but only found out today who left it, having only heard the Willie Nelson version.

[@dawnrobbins5877]

Hoyt Axton done a great version, as did Emmylou Harris.

[@robertschneider1977]

@@dawnrobbins5877 emmy lou's is the version that inspired willie to do it.

[@sethk1698]

I need to say this. This is not the first time I've heard this song, lots of great musicians cover it. However, this version made me cry so hard I had to leave the house full of roommates and go for a walk. I'm sitting in the bushes typing this still sobbing. I'm not afraid to admit it. I know this is a fictional story but something about the way TVZ sings it just breaks my heart in a good way. Like he's been through it. The sincerity in his voice chills me ..

[@jeffpenn3394]

India, I am one of your earliest subs, I am so glad you did this song. Townes did a second video right after this one in the same place called “Nothin’” please give it a listen if you you really want to see into his soul.

[@bentindle9036]

Yep, one of the best songwriters who ever walked the earth. RIP Townes.

[@monchorga]

India you should also review the version by Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard.

[@mookie7688]

If you watch the video, you can see Townes in it in the background.

[@robertreichle1]

That's the ultimate version.

[@matthewzuckerman6267]

The version by Willie and Dylanin 1983 is my favourite.

[@Gutslinger]

The Heartworn Highway's is my favorite version.. I didn't fully appreciate the lyrics when I used to listen to Willie and Haggard's version.

[@lavonnacasey5724]

The insight this woman has gotten from Townes’ words is just wonderful. She gets it. The way Townes meant it. She is a kindred spirit.✌️

[@walteryost9577]

So wonderful India chose this beautiful and sad song.

[@gwag8410]

Townes was a brilliant song writer....

[@netzahuacoyotl]

I used to see Townes in the folk clubs in Austin. One time he had a trombone that he just got and sat in with the band I was in. He couldn't really play it, but he was Townes so we didn't say no. Another time, his son gave me one of his songbooks, which I still have. I also have an album that I bought from him at one of his shows, personally autographed to me. The last time I saw him he stopped playing and laid down on the stage. He lived hard and didn't take care of himself. He died a few years later, much too young.

[@jimaspholm6296]

I like the way you picked up on the emotion of this song. It's a sad tale but it happens all to often.

[@russellgarmeson6605]

Willie Nelson, does a version of this that is terrific. You should give that a listen.

[@marymarney3843]

In my opinion Willie's version is better.

[@rayczekalski9481]

Yes Willie and Merle did it better

[@russellgarmeson6605]

@@marymarney3843 I agree. But I didn't know it wasn't a Willie song. Got to give credit to man who wrote such a great song, and India for introducing it to me.

[@J_Gamble]

There are better singers than Townes, but I always think of Townes more as a songwriter who would sing his own songs occasionally. Willie does great version but I think I like Emmylou's does this Van Zandt sont best.

[@matthewdrake4385]

Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard did a great duet of this on the early 80s. I used to have this on vinyl.

[@jcronk]

One of the really interesting things about the song to me is that in the text of the lyrics, there's absolutely no indication that Pancho and Lefty knew each other or had ever met. The first verse could be about either of them or someone else, and each verse after that is completely self-contained. Also, in the chorus, notice he says "they only let him hang around" (TVZ said at one point that he thought Pancho was hanged) after the Pancho verse, and then the Federales seem to be talking about Lefty in the next verse, where he "split for Ohio" (they only let him slip away). Every word of the song is amazing, and it invites all kinds of different interpretations. He was one of the greatest songwriters of all time. "The Hole" is another great one to check out - it's a not-so-subtle allegory for severe depression and drug addiction.

[@brianharrisable]

I got to hang out with him and harmonise (badly) on No Place to Fall in an airport lounge, just a couple of years before he died. My picture appears in a recent book written by his manager, which blew my mind.

[@indiatastic]

Omg! I sometimes feel like the only black girl in the world who LOVES townes. One of my fave songwriters of all time!!!

[@morkmon]

Nothin' & Wainting Around To Die, both from Heartworn Highways are really great

[@tylong7415]

Best songwriter of alltime despite being a troubled man. So glad you took the time to soak it up. Lots of lessons in his songs no matter how painful they might be

[@zenhaelcero8481]

Wow, not every day I see a Townes reaction! Really great to see people appreciate the man and his music. He deserved a better fate than he got, but that's the way it goes. Townes also performed "Waiting Around to Die" at the same Heartworn Highways venue, and you could see the older black man in the background crying. The way I heard it, that song was written for/about him. It seemed to touch him somewhere special.

[@lavonnacasey5724]

“Waiting Around to Die” was Townes’ first song he wrote. He wrote it while held up in a closet when he was married to his first wife, Fran Peters. They lived in Houston, say around the mid sixties. Townes did not meet Seymour Washington until Townes lived in Clarksville, which is part of Austin. Say some time around 1974 when he was with Cindy Morgan who became his second wife. Uncle Seymour was dying and past not too long after the filming. It is a very sad song. Townes was a very dear but troubled man with a additive drug and alcohol issues. Seymour Washington knew this about Townes. The combination I believe is why the tears.

[@mookie7688]

Townes Van Zandt was a poet. One of the truly great songwriters. Great reaction.

[@pattibrooks1907]

Such a lovley nice singer nicely done !

[@hazelvee9793]

This is such an iconic song covered by many great artists. Bob Dylan does a beautiful version. (I’m bias) Townes wrote some beautiful songs. RIP 😔

[@fleegerbriggs5694]

Townes van Zandt was a genius. Try "Our Mother the Mountain"

[@julesotis13]

love ur reactions....and honesty...just ur face would be enough and your words augment that you are one of my favorties not to mention your bold rare broad. choices...townes van zandt, as shown in a handfu lof terrific documentary videos and fims, was considered one of te reatest poet son writers ever....very infuentia more tan famous... a true cowboy poet boemian troubadour and amazin story teer writer ...enoy and ty

[@grbdtb]

thank you so much for reviewing Townes Van Zandt. One of the greatest songwriters of all time. A bit tragic as he died too young. You really got Townes so quickly. You're right, the lyrics are very deep. You might try a song he wrote called Tecumseh Valley - there is a version he does with Nanci Griffith.

[@grbdtb]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/eJSqmX6fiLSorZY

[@grbdtb]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/npSyo4mHfZWto5I

[@jonathanfrieze8497]

townes is without a doubt the greatest songwriter of all time gotta listen to nothin or waiting around to die my favorite snake mountain blues you have to give that a listen

[@annereidy7981]

Other versions of this song don't live up to this!

[@rockitflash]

Notice that much emotion was from one voice and one acoustic guitar.Powerful. Waiting Around To Die will take you to your knees.

[@kdavis3384]

One of the greatest songwriters of of all.time. died penniless

[@thisisdowntime8231]

I love your reactions to it, it shows your appreciation of good lyrics, god bless

[@markbishopmusic]

Townes was a wordsmith, no denying that!

[@mage1439]

Without knowing anything else about Townes, the first thing I thought when seeing the very beginning of this is how cute and unassuming he seemed.

[@tango-bravo]

I love your reaction! Keep it up

[@willisryan4576]

do "waiting around to die" from the same movie, if you haven't already!

[@dbtrek]

Thank you for doing this one.

[@jasonliegois2399]

Congratulations you have discovered one of the true poet laureates of Texas. Listen to anything by him.

[@brigitte9999]

Thanks, I have always heard of Townes but I never have taken the time to check him out. I love Justin Townes Earl though!

[@JacobG303]

Townes Van Zandt is the most underrated country/folk/whatever you consider this singer/ songwriter ever. Finding a song of his that doesn't haunt you is hard to do

[@webbtrekker534]

Townes Van Zandt is one of the most underrated songwriters out there. Take the time to check him out on You Tube. He passed away in 1997. Shortly be fore he died he cleaned himself up and sat before a camera and recorded all his songs.

[@wheelmanstan]

chris christopherson is a rhodes scholar, laureate, and I remember him saying how blown away he was when he heard that "...now you wear your skin like iron and your breathes as hard as kerosene", like he got emotional about how good that line was

[@bombermills67]

Nice story in a song never heard of them before but really nice to listen to thank you

[@americanmutt9089]

Love Willie and Merle's version too!!!

[@julesotis13]

here my friend this is a clip from Heartworn Highways an old beautiful truthful doc about Townes and his many colleauges, incl in this clip a proflle of an old school man that will speak for itself...throughout the doc are other legends of this poetic musical singer song writer traditon out of Ausitn and more mysteirously a town in West Texas caled Lubbock Lights whre WAY back in the day was born a fella caled Buddy holly and later a crew slew of talented artists who became known some as the Flatlanders incl the great Terry and Jo arvey Allen (who live in the little new mexico town Townes spent time in where yours truly lives outside santa fe NM) and Jo Ely, Jimmmie Dlae Gilmore (who the great Coen Bros gave a deserved acitng turn in their comic weirdo masterfilm Big Lebwoesie and the other bowler, Smokey...) and many more most especially the other spititua leader of this crew and movement as such....Guy and Susanna Clakr...this is a clip...the movie is feature length...react if you wish or enjoy thanks! kzbin.info/www/bejne/gWmXlXSOpcygfqM

[@jjgentry9956]

Agreed! I've played in metal and punk rock bands my whole life and I still do but man I really dont know if there are any composers that can paint a picture sonically as Townes. I'm 50 yo I'm still releasing metal records, but man if you have the gift I dont care what genre.

[@keefmack]

Two of the saddest songs ever written are "Marie" and "Waiting Around to Die". Townes was incredible

[@RaySawhill]

Great song, sweet reactions.

[@shane7073]

You need to listen to the man Townes called a brother. Artist Blaze Foley - song title If I could only fly

[@philpinckley1720]

India you are fantastic!

[@rustyrumble645]

You seriously need to watch Waiting around to die from the same session. Townes was a great song writer.

[@007videovixen]

Lefty sold him out. That's why Pancho was caught. I had only seen the Willie/Merle Haggard music video. That shows a little bit more and I like their version better, but I appreciate that Townes wrote the song. Great Western Song.

[@davidwarwick6784]

Great breakdown

[@reece8224]

This song brought me to tears the first time I heard it. Same with Waitin around to die

[@CaptainHightop]

Townes was one of the best song writers of his generation. Other rgeat songs of his are To live is To Fly and Waiting 'Round To Die.

[@collinmallett1206]

why do you always react to the best music the pogues, steve Earle and now towns van Zandt? you should really do a reaction to "waiting around to die" (the version on the heartworn highways documentary) it is so good and so sad you can feel the emotion in the room. You just got a subscribe from me!

[@MattMonk]

In my opinion, take it for what you will, Townes Van Zandt was the finest lyricist who ever lived.

[@paulbeydler7109]

Towns was a musical genius who tragically passed! If you read many of the comments you can get a snapshot of Towns! Chasing his music is a very enlightening experience! Some research would help follow his rabbit hole! He was a great one!!!

[@smellyfella5077]

Lefty was Pancho's Right Hand Man and sold Poncho out to the Federales. "where he got the bread to go [to Ohio] nobody knows"...the Federales paid him off to set Pancho up, and "say a few [prayers] for Lefty too he only did what he had to do"....after the Federales captured Lefty they pretty much extorted him; they told him they would pay him to help them get Pancho in a Sting Operation, but if Lefty didn't want to comply they would hang him on the spot....that was van Zandt's take on the historical situation in the song. And it's kinda' how it actually went down. "Pancho And Lefty" is a really good "Story' song. Another good "Story" song is "Smoke On The Water" by Deep Purple....watching you do a reaction video to that one would be really good.

[@thefrantasticmissfine]

Townes was subjected to shock therapy which erased his childhood memories. Always felt that "she sank into your dreams " was him trying to remember...

[@aarondesjardins5820]

There is a song. An amazing song. Which is considered the Official Unofficial Canadian National Anthem. Probably the greatest song that has ever blessed some speakers. This song is called Northwest Passage by Stan Rogers. There is also a power metal cover of Northwest Passage by Unleash the Archers. Both are good but you have to listen to the original first

[@doctorteethomega]

5:08 He says "Pick it. And it won't ever heal." And the hippie chick laughs. I love this song, but that improv might be my favorite part.

[@J_Gamble]

Thank you! Emmylou Harris has a real moving version of this and had a bit of a hit with it

[@AlejandroMartinez-uc5xz]

WILLIE NELSON - ALWAYS ON MY MIND

[@TR-yi8up]

Poetry that happens to have a guitar strummed to it. And for someone who has never heard it before, you seem to understand this mysterious song as well as anyone.

[@anitastevens8134]

Oh, my. You found Townes!

[@Derrick4Liberty]

Great reaction

[@intotheblue96]

Thank you for doing this, India!

[@adamdunbar8260]

From the same session Heartworn Highways. Townes doing Waitin Around To Die is heart breaking. The guy in the back known as the Walking Blacksmith cries his eyes out. That effect was Townes. Utter genius

[@brianlevine1479]

Check out Gary P. Nunn's "London Homesick Blues".Robert Earl Kean's "Dysfunctional Family Christmas". Lots of great music here in Texas.You have a great day!

[@edprzydatek8398]

I read somewhere that this song is about Pancho Villa, the Mexican revolutionary, who got turned in by a friend who was paid to do so. "Where he got the bread to go, there ain't nobody knows.". And "All the Federales say, they could have had him anyday" was just bragging on their part. I don't know. But good reaction.

[@mrwho2118]

Subbed just because of this video

[@UKEYsPOWER]

ImI Tnx for Townes! One of the greatest songwriters of XX century.

[@jimdunagan4180]

So glad you heard the original artist....

[@wgj4everlong426]

Townes could transport you with words,check out his songs Tecumseh Valley or Marie,my 2 favorite Townes songs.He wrote so many you can't go wrong with a Townes song,RIP Townes Van Zandt

[@mikewilson3581]

You must watch the Townes Van Zandt documentary Be Here To Love Me. It's fantastic!

[@betsymaguireohara8959]

Oh dear! I was talking abt Willie Nelson’s version. 🤣 I should have been specific.

[@betsymaguireohara8959]

Take a listen to willies cover.

[@jimdunagan4180]

Flying Shoes...is a hell of a song

[@jodyparrish637]

If you watch his song from the same scene called “Waiting Around to Die” and he makes the old man in the background there shed tears!!! It’s magical

[@bretthardin9239]

One of One of the best song writers ever

[@RomeoWhiskey692]

Pancho Villa was a revolutionary leader in Mexico . Many Americans went down to Mexico to fight with him . Lefty is supposed to be one of them . The politics get a little convoluted in Mexico , and the Federales saying they could have arrested him , is to save face , because he pulled a lot of stuff in his country . Pancho made a deal with an old enemy and powerful politician , Obregon , that he would surrender and not take up arms against the government again , if he could go back and run his ranch . When the President of Mexico was assassinated , he decided he no longer would hold to that , but Obregon gave the order to have him killed to keep him from getting back into politics . He was with a driver and a couple of bodyguards , in town to do some business , when seven gunmen opened fire . Villa was hit many times . The car was basically shot to pieces . The story goes the shooters were foreign , so that no group would be directly tied to the assassination . Even more , some of them were supposed to be gringos ( Americans ) who had rode with him during the war and knew him personally . “ The day they laid poor Pancho low , Lefty split for Ohio ... Where he got the grit to go ... well there ain’t nobody knows ...” That’s how Lefty got the money to get back to Ohio , by shooting his friend for money ... in the song . Now he’s growing old in a run-down apartment alone ... thinking about what he did ... He killed a legend . That’s the song .

[@notme3686]

If you like this stuff you should give jason boland hard times are relative a listen. Also chris knight down the river. You're gonna like em. Your reactions are cute as hell by the way. Worth coming back for.

[@rodconaway]

Townes was the man

[@alexmat81]

Lyrically he was one of the very best

[@CowpokeCannoneer]

Townes is one of the greatest writers of all time.

[@davidwhitehead1648]

He announced the solo "Pick it , it won't ever heal..." 😰

[@wheelmanstan]

fantastic film, also watch ""be here to love me", and also react to "big country blues"!