Celebrate the Heart of Country, Americana, and Roots Music!

Drop Us A Line, Y'all

Y'all interested in advertising, partnering up, contributing stories, joining our team, or just got a question? Well, don't be shy, drop us a line!

Follow Us

When Merle Haggard And Willie Nelson Teamed Up For “Pancho And Lefty”

by
  • Arden is a Senior Country Music Journalist for Country Thang Daily, specializing in classic hits and contemporary chart-toppers.
  • Prior to joining Country Thang Daily, Arden wrote for Billboard and People magazine, covering country music legends and emerging artists.
  • Arden holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Tennessee, with a minor in Music Studies.

Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson teamed up on several occasions through the years and were able to release numerous collaborative albums. And without a doubt, “Pancho and Lefty” is the most iconic one out there.

Released in 1983, the song reached No.1 on both the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles and Canadian RPM Country Tracks. And ever since it became available for download, it sold over six hundred thousand digital copies in the United States.

Pancho and Lefty, The Partners in Crime

Originally written and performed by Townes Van Zandt in 1972, “Pancho and Lefty” was considered his “most enduring and well-known song.” It tells the story of a Mexican bandit named Pancho and his partner in crime, Lefty. While the two started the song as clear associates in mischief, the lyrics tell the tale of how Lefty betrayed Pancho resulting in his untimely death at the hands of the “federals.”

“Poncho met his match, you know. On the deserts down in Mexico. Nobody heard his dyin’ word. Oh, but that’s the way it goes,” the song goes.

Most of the details in the lyrics mirror the life of Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa, who was killed by unknown assassins in 1923. Villa’s dying words were, “Don’t let it end like this, tell them I said something great.”

“I realize that I wrote it, but it’s hard to take credit for the writing because it came from out of the blue. It came through me, and it’s a real nice song, and I think I’ve finally found out what it’s about. I’ve always wondered what it’s about,” Van Zandt once said on the similarity between the song’s Pancho and the famous revolutionary. “I kinda always knew it wasn’t about Pancho Villa, and then somebody told me that Pancho Villa had a buddy whose name in Spanish meant ‘Lefty.’ But in the song, my song, Pancho, gets hung. ‘They only let him hang around out of kindness, I suppose,’ and the real Pancho Villa was assassinated.”

“Pancho and Lefty” Became One of the Most Beloved Country Duets

Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson quickly popularized “Pancho and Lefty”, and it became one of the most beloved country duets of the 1980s. Earlier this year, the song was even included in the 2020 inductees to the Grammy Hall of Fame. 

But did you know that Haggard and Nelson had never heard the song until Nelson’s daughter, Lana, suggested it? During that time, music videos were brand new, and the cinematic clip for “Pancho and Lefty” absolutely propelled the captivating story song to success. Lana was even the one who directed the legendary music video, depicting Willie Nelson as Pancho, and Merle Haggard as Lefty. Townes Van Zandt also appeared several times throughout the video.

Being two of the leading country stars of their era, it was basically inevitable that Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson would meet at some point. When that first meeting finally happened, it marked the start of a decades-long friendship.

Haggard and Nelson ended up having many great memories, from recording the legendary song “Pancho and Lefty,” trying to balance their “pretty hard” lifestyle by jogging two miles wearing their cowboy boots every time they smoked a joint together, and so much more.

Don’t miss Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson’s performance of “Pancho and Lefty” in the video below.

Latest Stories

Parker McCollum Claps Back After Oliver Anthony Hints at Autotune Allegations

Parker McCollum Claps Back After Oliver Anthony Hints at Autotune Allegations

After viral sensation Oliver Anthony shared some candid—and controversial—thoughts about the music industry, country music fans were abuzz recently. The conversation escalated when Anthony hinted that a mainstream country artist ...

The Timeless Legacy of Randy Travis' Grammy-Winning "Forever and Ever, Amen"

The Timeless Legacy of Randy Travis’ Grammy-Winning “Forever and Ever, Amen”

When it comes to country music that stands the test of time, Randy Travis is the name that echoes through the halls of history. His deep, resonant voice and unparalleled ...

Phil Robertson Faces Early Alzheimer’s Diagnosis

Phil Robertson Faces Early Alzheimer’s Diagnosis Amid Blood Disease Complications

The Robertson family, known for their Duck Dynasty fame, has revealed concerning news about their beloved patriarch, Phil Robertson. On a recent episode of their podcast, Unashamed with the Robertson ...

Earliest Known Country Music Recording Discovered, Dating Back to 1891

Earliest Known Country Music Recording Discovered, Dating Back to 1891

Country music has always been a storytelling tradition, weaving the trials and triumphs of everyday life into melodies that stand the test of time. While most fans trace the roots ...

The All-American Rejects Reveal "Dirty Little Secret" Started as a Country Song

The All-American Rejects Reveal “Dirty Little Secret” Started as a Country Song

Who would’ve thought? The All-American Rejects, those emo-rock icons of the 2000s, recently revealed a surprising twist about one of their biggest hits. During an interview on the Zach Sang ...

Zach Top Revives John Michael Montgomery's "Sold" With a Neotraditional Twist

Zach Top Revives John Michael Montgomery’s “Sold” With a Neotraditional Twist

Zach Top is quickly solidifying his place as one of country music’s most exciting rising stars. Hailing from Sunnyside, Washington, Zach brings a neotraditional flair to his music that feels ...

Revisiting the Time Dolly Parton and Country Queens Sang Together on Burt Reynolds' Show

Revisiting the Time Dolly Parton and Country Queens Sang Together on Burt Reynolds’ Show

Burt Reynolds may be best remembered as a Hollywood icon. Still, in the early ’90s, he brought country music royalty together for an unforgettable moment in television history. On his ...

Mainstream Media Tried to Cancel Chris Stapleton, But Fans Rallied Behind Him

Mainstream Media Tried to Cancel Chris Stapleton, But Fans Rallied Behind Him

Chris Stapleton’s dominance at the 2024 Country Music Association (CMA) Awards was not without controversy. As he walked away with Single of the Year and Song of the Year for ...

Oliver Anthony Criticizes Beyoncé's "Cowboy Carter" Album as "Complete Trash"

Oliver Anthony Criticizes Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter” Album as “Complete Trash”

Oliver Anthony is no stranger to controversy. Known for his unapologetic stance against the mainstream music industry, the artist behind “Rich Men North of Richmond” recently turned his attention to ...

Oliver Anthony Slams Nashville's Music Industry for Prioritizing Profits Over Authenticity

Oliver Anthony Slams Nashville’s Music Industry for Prioritizing Profits Over Authenticity

Oliver Anthony, the breakout star whose hit “Rich Men North of Richmond” skyrocketed him to fame, has made it clear that he wants nothing to do with the music business’s ...

Leave a Comment

For security, use of Google's reCAPTCHA service is required which is subject to the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.