Classic Clips: Jason Isbell “Pancho and Lefty”, 2018

Photo: Danny Clinch

Isbell performed at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum for the ‘Outlaws and Armadillos’ exhibition.

When you combine the superlative talents of Jason Isbell (now Americana’s favourite son) and Townes van Zandt, one of the truly great songwriters from the Outlaw era of country music, then you can expect to hear something special. And on this performance of one of van Zandt’s masterpieces ‘Pancho and Lefty’ you really did. As Isbell says right at the end of the clip, this is one of his favourite songs and he has always expressed a love for the music of van Zandt.  The Country Music Hall of Fame organised the exhibition ‘Outlaws and Armadillos: Country’s Roaring 70s’ to pay tribute to the likes of van Zandt, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Waylon Jennings, Guy Clark, Jerry Jeff Walker, and so on.

At about this time Isbell was cementing his status as Americana royalty after the release of the trio of albums “Southeastern” “Something more than Free” and “The Nashville Sound”. He and his wife Amanda Shires were Americana’s golden couple. One can imagine that expressing a love for the music of van Zandt may have led to the invitation to the two to perform at the inaugural concert (the exhibition went on for three years, and interestingly this song was not featured on the celebratory album that accompanied the exhibition)).  The song is one of van Zandt’s most iconic and enduring, usually featuring in a list of his best songs in at least the top 3 (to be honest any two that are better need to be pretty darned good). It is a story of banditry and betrayal, with an emotional heart that far outstrips the relatively bare bones of the story. One of the most telling verses is “The day they laid poor Pancho low /Lefty split for Ohio / Where he got the bread to go / There ain’t nobody knows”. It is assumed that Lefty (a boy who left home to find his fortune) sold Pancho (a young Mexican bandit) out and used his reward money to return home. Which was probably a mistake as he ended up “livin’ in cheap motels” where “Cleveland’s cold” and he is “growin’ old”.  The glorious chorus has echoes of the movie ‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid’ (1969) – ” A few gray Federales say / We could have had him any day / We only let him go so long / Out of kindness, I suppose”, which might not be so far-fetched as the song was written within three years of the movie’s release.

I suspect that some readers may have heard enough of this old chestnut, there being more than 40 recorded versions, including by the artist, of course, a truly haunting version, and by Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard (a big hit in 1983),  Emmylou Harris and Lyle Lovett (who made, for my money, the definitive version of Van Zandt’s ‘If I needed you‘ on his “Step Inside this House” album). Isbell has always recorded a version, with Elizabeth Cook.  But this live version is outstanding, heavier by far than some versions, with Isbell’s scorching slide guitar fronting a full band with drums, bass,  harmonica (Micky Raphael?), guitarists Charlie Worsham and Chris Shiflett, Shooter Jennings, Dave Cobb on piano, Robby Turner on steel and the divine Amanda Shires on harmony vocals and keening fiddle.  So I hope you won’t mind another dose of this wonderful song – enjoy!

About FredArnold 85 Articles
Lifelong fan of predominantly US (and Canadian) country roots music. Previously an avid concert-goer before wives, kids and dogs got in the way- and although I still try to get to several, my preference for small independent venues often means standing, and that ain't too good for my ancient bones!! Still, a healthy and catholic music collection helps ease the pain
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