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Robert (Bob) Miller
And this one. But no official tune yet. Based on "Pancho and Lefty" by Townes Van Zandt.
LEFTY by Bob Miller Copyright 2023
1
We last left Lefty in Ohio at a dockside bar playing his guitar,
Living in a cheap hotel. You know, about as low as a cowboy goes.
He sang his ballads every night. On and on the songs would go
About his life and lifelong friend -the one-named bandit Pancho.
Then he up and said he’d go away from the dock and Ohio
He wanted a new change of scene and decided on New Orleans.
REF
Lefty could not hang around to see what he knew was bound to be.
2
A stern wheeler down the Ohio past the spit of old Cairo
Through Memphis and post bellum south almost to the Mississippi mouth
He set a crate, got out his guitar on the corner near a dockside bar.
Put a dollar in the case for display bowed his head and began to play.
It was almost dark when he looked around, mostly dimes in the case were found.
A dozen quarters or maybe ten, he nodded his thanks to the people then--
The barman was standing by the case an unhappy look upon his face.
You’re killing me playing out here come on in and have a beer?
So Lefty sang his songs , back-room sleeping he took in stride
Mornings saw him sweeping floors unstacking chairs and doing barman chores.
REF
Lefty whispered into Pancho’s ear standing close so none could hear
I can’t hang around to see what I know is bound to be
3
One night a man came by, offered Lefty a chance to open for his band on tour
Lefty talked it over with Joe, Joe replied that he should go.
Frank the drummer in the band said one day, “Lefty, I have heard you play
Three weeks now to the day, you never sing the same song twice”
Lefty said, “I really only know one song about Pancho a bandit
From the deserts down in Mexico and I’m singing it to pay a price.
We had some trouble with the federales, I left Pancho when he was on his knees
I’ve always thought I done him wrong, I’m looking for redemption in this song.
“And when that song is done you know I’m really going to have to go
To Rosa down in Mexico and tell her that I’m sorry.”
4
So Lefty goes to Mexico finds Rosa where he left her years ago
Her daughter has Pancho’s eyes, he asks her where Pancho lies,
Rosa takes him to the Church in town. Stopping by a cross he looks down.
“Pancho” written on the patibulum, The stipes, the barrel of a gun. [pronounced sty pees]
He says goodbye to Rosa then he says he’s sorry once again.
She says goodbye with a smile. He says he may be back in a while.
REF
Lefty saw Pancho laid to rest, he finally got that off his chest,
Now he knows what was to be and what he couldn’t see.
5
His song is over, but his soul’s not free, decides to go to Los Angeles
Maybe he’ll find comfort there or maybe just a prayer.
From the deserts down in Mexico, to the riverbanks of the Ohio,
To the dockside bars of New Orleans, to the city of Los Angeles.
The rest of the story so far untold.
REF
Pancho loved the bandit life. Lefty could no longer live that life.
Lefty loved old Pancho sure, but he knew the knowing could not endure.
What was to be came to be for bandit Pancho and his friend Lefty.
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