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'''Pancho and Lefty''' is a country song, originally written by Townes Van Zandt.  The best-known version is a duo by Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard (Nelson sings the first two verses and the chorus, Haggard the third verse).

'''Pancho and Lefty''' is a country song, originally written by Townes Van Zandt.  The best-known version is a duo by Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard (Nelson sings the first three verses and the chorus, Haggard the last verse).

Though commonly believed to be a tale about the notorious Mexican outlaw [[Pancho Villa]], Van Zandt claims that is not the case.

Though commonly believed to be a tale about the notorious Mexican outlaw [[Pancho Villa]], Van Zandt claims that is not the case (Villa was never captured or killed during his lifetime).

The song tells of a criminal duo: Mexican national Pancho and his American partner Lefty.  The chorus mentions that the ''federales'' (Mexican police) repeatedly claim that they could have captured Pancho whenever they wanted, but didn't "out of kindness, I suppose".  Eventually, Pancho is killed by the ''federales'' and Lefty somehow obtains the money to return to America once Pancho is buried; Lefty is now growing old, living in cheap motels in [[Cleveland]].

The song tells of a criminal duo: Mexican national Pancho and his American partner Lefty.  Pancho is killed by the ''federales'' (the Mexican national police), whereupon Lefty returns to the United States; Lefty is now growing old, living in cheap motels in [[Cleveland]].

 

The lyrics contain much ambiguity: the ''federales'' repeatedly claim (even years after his death) that they could have captured Pancho whenever they wanted, but didn't "out of kindness, I suppose" (implying that bribery was likely involved), while the circumstances surrounding Lefty's return to [[Ohio]] (and how he got the funds to do so) are also suspicious (it is implied that Lefty sold out Pancho to the ''federales'', in exchange for his freedom).

[[Category:Country Songs]]

[[Category:Country Songs]]