Poncho and Lefty
Do we think Poncho and Lefty were lovers?
I guess one question is, how long ago did Lefty kill him? I've always thought Poncho's death was in the past, and Lefty has gotten old since then, and is still dealing with the repercussions of what he did. And since he's in Cleveland, and the Federales don't seem to be after him, the only repercussions must be emotional. Seems like a long time to carry around the grief of some guy you murdered for a little cash.
Of course, if he killed him recently, did he kill him to get out of the bandit life because he was too old for it? What is their age difference? If Lefty was old, but "Poncho was a bandit boy," maybe he wouldn't quit and Lefty needed a way out.
Also, did Lefty steal Poncho's money, or did he get a reward from the Federales? That's not clear in the song, either.
Anyway, I've heard this song twice in the last week and was thinking about it again. Gotta love Outlaw Country. :)
Willie and Merle perform the song live on YouTube, if you prefer to hear the song.
Livin 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
You weren't your momma's only boy, but her favorite one it seems
She began to cry when you said goodbye
And sank into your dreams
Pancho was a bandit boy, his horse was fast as polished steel
He wore his gun outside his pants
For all the honest world to feel
Pancho met his match you know on the deserts down in Mexico
Nobody heard his dyin words, ah but that's the way it goes
All the Federales say, they could've had him any day
They only let him slip away, out of kindness I suppose
Lefty he can't sing the blues all night long like he used to
The dust that Pancho bit down south ended up in Lefty's mouth
The day they laid poor Pancho low, Lefty split for Ohio
Where he got the bread to go, there ain't nobody knows
All the Federales say, they could've had him any day
They only let him slip away out of kindness I suppose
The boys tell how old Pancho fell, and Lefty's livin in cheap hotels
The desert's quiet, Cleveland's cold
And so the story ends we're told
Pancho needs your prayers it's true, but save a few for Lefty too
He only did what he had to do, and now he's growing old
All the Federales say, they could've had him any day
They only let him go so long, out of kindness I suppose
A few gray Federales say, they could've had him any day
They only let him go so long, out of kindness I suppose
Crossposted at "http://muck-a-luck.dreamwidth.org/985437.html"
I guess one question is, how long ago did Lefty kill him? I've always thought Poncho's death was in the past, and Lefty has gotten old since then, and is still dealing with the repercussions of what he did. And since he's in Cleveland, and the Federales don't seem to be after him, the only repercussions must be emotional. Seems like a long time to carry around the grief of some guy you murdered for a little cash.
Of course, if he killed him recently, did he kill him to get out of the bandit life because he was too old for it? What is their age difference? If Lefty was old, but "Poncho was a bandit boy," maybe he wouldn't quit and Lefty needed a way out.
Also, did Lefty steal Poncho's money, or did he get a reward from the Federales? That's not clear in the song, either.
Anyway, I've heard this song twice in the last week and was thinking about it again. Gotta love Outlaw Country. :)
Willie and Merle perform the song live on YouTube, if you prefer to hear the song.
Livin 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
You weren't your momma's only boy, but her favorite one it seems
She began to cry when you said goodbye
And sank into your dreams
Pancho was a bandit boy, his horse was fast as polished steel
He wore his gun outside his pants
For all the honest world to feel
Pancho met his match you know on the deserts down in Mexico
Nobody heard his dyin words, ah but that's the way it goes
All the Federales say, they could've had him any day
They only let him slip away, out of kindness I suppose
Lefty he can't sing the blues all night long like he used to
The dust that Pancho bit down south ended up in Lefty's mouth
The day they laid poor Pancho low, Lefty split for Ohio
Where he got the bread to go, there ain't nobody knows
All the Federales say, they could've had him any day
They only let him slip away out of kindness I suppose
The boys tell how old Pancho fell, and Lefty's livin in cheap hotels
The desert's quiet, Cleveland's cold
And so the story ends we're told
Pancho needs your prayers it's true, but save a few for Lefty too
He only did what he had to do, and now he's growing old
All the Federales say, they could've had him any day
They only let him go so long, out of kindness I suppose
A few gray Federales say, they could've had him any day
They only let him go so long, out of kindness I suppose
Crossposted at "http://muck-a-luck.dreamwidth.org/985437.html"