Poncho And Lefty

Originally written and recorded by Townes Van Zandt

Duet with Merle Haggard

Living on the road my friend
was gonna keep you free and clean
Now you were your skin like iron
and your breath's as hard as kerosene

You weren't your mama's only boy
but her favorite one it seems
She began to cry when you said goodbye
and sank into your dreams

Poncho 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

Poncho 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
We 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 Poncho bit down south
ended up in Lefty's mouth

Day they laid poor Poncho 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
We only let him slip away
out of kindness I suppose

(instrumental)

The poets tell how Poncho fell
and Lefty's living in a cheap hotel
The desert's quiet and Cleveland's cold
and so the story ends we're told

Poncho 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)
We only let him slip away
out of kindness I suppose

A few Federales say
could've had him any day
We only let him go so long
out of kindness I suppose