Dtap to play
Gtap to play
Atap to play
Emtap to play
Key
D Major
Difficulty
Intermediate
Capo
None
Chords
D · G · A · Em
Pancho and Lefty Chords – Guitar
Townes Van Zandt’s outlaw country masterpiece. Intermediate difficulty in the key of D.
Country Strum (4/4 Time)
↓↓↑↑↓↑
123456
Tip: This is a storytelling song. Keep the strum gentle during the verses and let the lyrics do the work.
Lyrics & Chords
Full Song
Verse 1
D
Livin’ on the road my friend
G D
Was gonna keep you free and clean
D
Now you wear your skin like iron
G D
And your breath’s as hard as kerosene
A
You weren’t your mama’s only boy
G D
But her favorite one it seems
D G
She began to cry when you said goodbye
A D
And sank into your dreams
Chorus
D G D A
Pancho was a bandit boys, his horse was fast as polished steel
D G A D
He wore his gun outside his pants for all the honest world to feel
Verse 2
D
Pancho met his match you know
G D
On the deserts down in Mexico
D
Nobody heard his dying words
G D
Ah, but that’s the way it goes
A
All the Federales say
G D
They could have had him any day
D G
They only let him slip away
A D
Out of kindness I suppose
Chorus
D G D A
Pancho was a bandit boys, his horse was fast as polished steel
D G A D
He wore his gun outside his pants for all the honest world to feel
Verse 3
D
Lefty, he can’t sing the blues
G D
All night long like he used to do
D
The dust that Pancho bit down south
G D
Ended up in Lefty’s mouth
A
The day they laid old Pancho low
G D
Lefty split for Ohio
D G
Where he got the bread to go
A D
There ain’t nobody knows
Chorus
D G D A
Pancho was a bandit boys, his horse was fast as polished steel
D G A D
He wore his gun outside his pants for all the honest world to feel
Verse 4
D
The poets tell how Pancho fell
G D
And Lefty’s livin’ in cheap hotels
D
The desert’s quiet and Cleveland’s cold
G D
And so the story ends we’re told
A
Pancho needs your prayers it’s true
G D
But save a few for Lefty too
D G
He only did what he had to do
A D
And now he’s growing old
Chorus
D G D A
Pancho was a bandit boys, his horse was fast as polished steel
D G A D
He wore his gun outside his pants for all the honest world to feel
Verse 5
D
A few gray Federales say
G D
They could have had him any day
D G
They only let him go so long
A D
Out of kindness I suppose
Practice tip: Willie Nelson’s version popularized this song. Try adding a walking bass line between D and G for an authentic country feel.
Dtap to play
Gtap to play
Atap to play
Emtap to play
Key
D Major
Difficulty
Intermediate
Tuning
G-C-E-A
Chords
D · G · A · Em
Pancho and Lefty Chords – Ukulele
Townes Van Zandt’s outlaw country masterpiece. Intermediate difficulty in the key of D.
Country Strum (4/4 Time)
↓↓↑↑↓↑
123456
Tip: This is a storytelling song. Keep the strum gentle during the verses and let the lyrics do the work.
Lyrics & Chords
Full Song
Verse 1
D
Livin’ on the road my friend
G D
Was gonna keep you free and clean
D
Now you wear your skin like iron
G D
And your breath’s as hard as kerosene
A
You weren’t your mama’s only boy
G D
But her favorite one it seems
D G
She began to cry when you said goodbye
A D
And sank into your dreams
Chorus
D G D A
Pancho was a bandit boys, his horse was fast as polished steel
D G A D
He wore his gun outside his pants for all the honest world to feel
Verse 2
D
Pancho met his match you know
G D
On the deserts down in Mexico
D
Nobody heard his dying words
G D
Ah, but that’s the way it goes
A
All the Federales say
G D
They could have had him any day
D G
They only let him slip away
A D
Out of kindness I suppose
Chorus
D G D A
Pancho was a bandit boys, his horse was fast as polished steel
D G A D
He wore his gun outside his pants for all the honest world to feel
Verse 3
D
Lefty, he can’t sing the blues
G D
All night long like he used to do
D
The dust that Pancho bit down south
G D
Ended up in Lefty’s mouth
A
The day they laid old Pancho low
G D
Lefty split for Ohio
D G
Where he got the bread to go
A D
There ain’t nobody knows
Chorus
D G D A
Pancho was a bandit boys, his horse was fast as polished steel
D G A D
He wore his gun outside his pants for all the honest world to feel
Verse 4
D
The poets tell how Pancho fell
G D
And Lefty’s livin’ in cheap hotels
D
The desert’s quiet and Cleveland’s cold
G D
And so the story ends we’re told
A
Pancho needs your prayers it’s true
G D
But save a few for Lefty too
D G
He only did what he had to do
A D
And now he’s growing old
Chorus
D G D A
Pancho was a bandit boys, his horse was fast as polished steel
D G A D
He wore his gun outside his pants for all the honest world to feel
Verse 5
D
A few gray Federales say
G D
They could have had him any day
D G
They only let him go so long
A D
Out of kindness I suppose
Practice tip: Willie Nelson’s version popularized this song. Try adding a walking bass line between D and G for an authentic country feel.
Dtap to play
Gtap to play
Atap to play
Emtap to play
Key
D Major
Difficulty
Intermediate
Left Hand
Root notes
Chords
D · G · A · Em
Pancho and Lefty Chords – Piano
Townes Van Zandt’s outlaw country masterpiece. Intermediate difficulty in the key of D.
Country Strum (4/4 Time)
↓↓↑↑↓↑
123456
Tip: This is a storytelling song. Keep the strum gentle during the verses and let the lyrics do the work.
Lyrics & Chords
Full Song
Verse 1
D
Livin’ on the road my friend
G D
Was gonna keep you free and clean
D
Now you wear your skin like iron
G D
And your breath’s as hard as kerosene
A
You weren’t your mama’s only boy
G D
But her favorite one it seems
D G
She began to cry when you said goodbye
A D
And sank into your dreams
Chorus
D G D A
Pancho was a bandit boys, his horse was fast as polished steel
D G A D
He wore his gun outside his pants for all the honest world to feel
Verse 2
D
Pancho met his match you know
G D
On the deserts down in Mexico
D
Nobody heard his dying words
G D
Ah, but that’s the way it goes
A
All the Federales say
G D
They could have had him any day
D G
They only let him slip away
A D
Out of kindness I suppose
Chorus
D G D A
Pancho was a bandit boys, his horse was fast as polished steel
D G A D
He wore his gun outside his pants for all the honest world to feel
Verse 3
D
Lefty, he can’t sing the blues
G D
All night long like he used to do
D
The dust that Pancho bit down south
G D
Ended up in Lefty’s mouth
A
The day they laid old Pancho low
G D
Lefty split for Ohio
D G
Where he got the bread to go
A D
There ain’t nobody knows
Chorus
D G D A
Pancho was a bandit boys, his horse was fast as polished steel
D G A D
He wore his gun outside his pants for all the honest world to feel
Verse 4
D
The poets tell how Pancho fell
G D
And Lefty’s livin’ in cheap hotels
D
The desert’s quiet and Cleveland’s cold
G D
And so the story ends we’re told
A
Pancho needs your prayers it’s true
G D
But save a few for Lefty too
D G
He only did what he had to do
A D
And now he’s growing old
Chorus
D G D A
Pancho was a bandit boys, his horse was fast as polished steel
D G A D
He wore his gun outside his pants for all the honest world to feel
Verse 5
D
A few gray Federales say
G D
They could have had him any day
D G
They only let him go so long
A D
Out of kindness I suppose
Practice tip: Willie Nelson’s version popularized this song. Try adding a walking bass line between D and G for an authentic country feel.
Dtap to play
Gtap to play
Atap to play
Emtap to play
Key
D Major
Difficulty
Intermediate
Tuning
gDGBD (Open G)
Chords
D · G · A · Em
Pancho and Lefty Chords – Banjo
Townes Van Zandt’s outlaw country masterpiece. Intermediate difficulty in the key of D.
Country Strum (4/4 Time)
↓↓↑↑↓↑
123456
Tip: This is a storytelling song. Keep the strum gentle during the verses and let the lyrics do the work.
Lyrics & Chords
Full Song
Verse 1
D
Livin’ on the road my friend
G D
Was gonna keep you free and clean
D
Now you wear your skin like iron
G D
And your breath’s as hard as kerosene
A
You weren’t your mama’s only boy
G D
But her favorite one it seems
D G
She began to cry when you said goodbye
A D
And sank into your dreams
Chorus
D G D A
Pancho was a bandit boys, his horse was fast as polished steel
D G A D
He wore his gun outside his pants for all the honest world to feel
Verse 2
D
Pancho met his match you know
G D
On the deserts down in Mexico
D
Nobody heard his dying words
G D
Ah, but that’s the way it goes
A
All the Federales say
G D
They could have had him any day
D G
They only let him slip away
A D
Out of kindness I suppose
Chorus
D G D A
Pancho was a bandit boys, his horse was fast as polished steel
D G A D
He wore his gun outside his pants for all the honest world to feel
Verse 3
D
Lefty, he can’t sing the blues
G D
All night long like he used to do
D
The dust that Pancho bit down south
G D
Ended up in Lefty’s mouth
A
The day they laid old Pancho low
G D
Lefty split for Ohio
D G
Where he got the bread to go
A D
There ain’t nobody knows
Chorus
D G D A
Pancho was a bandit boys, his horse was fast as polished steel
D G A D
He wore his gun outside his pants for all the honest world to feel
Verse 4
D
The poets tell how Pancho fell
G D
And Lefty’s livin’ in cheap hotels
D
The desert’s quiet and Cleveland’s cold
G D
And so the story ends we’re told
A
Pancho needs your prayers it’s true
G D
But save a few for Lefty too
D G
He only did what he had to do
A D
And now he’s growing old
Chorus
D G D A
Pancho was a bandit boys, his horse was fast as polished steel
D G A D
He wore his gun outside his pants for all the honest world to feel
Verse 5
D
A few gray Federales say
G D
They could have had him any day
D G
They only let him go so long
A D
Out of kindness I suppose
Practice tip: Willie Nelson’s version popularized this song. Try adding a walking bass line between D and G for an authentic country feel.
Dtap to play
Gtap to play
Atap to play
Emtap to play
Key
D Major
Difficulty
Intermediate
Tuning
G-D-A-E
Chords
D · G · A · Em
Pancho and Lefty Chords – Mandolin
Townes Van Zandt’s outlaw country masterpiece. Intermediate difficulty in the key of D.
Country Strum (4/4 Time)
↓↓↑↑↓↑
123456
Tip: This is a storytelling song. Keep the strum gentle during the verses and let the lyrics do the work.
Lyrics & Chords
Full Song
Verse 1
D
Livin’ on the road my friend
G D
Was gonna keep you free and clean
D
Now you wear your skin like iron
G D
And your breath’s as hard as kerosene
A
You weren’t your mama’s only boy
G D
But her favorite one it seems
D G
She began to cry when you said goodbye
A D
And sank into your dreams
Chorus
D G D A
Pancho was a bandit boys, his horse was fast as polished steel
D G A D
He wore his gun outside his pants for all the honest world to feel
Verse 2
D
Pancho met his match you know
G D
On the deserts down in Mexico
D
Nobody heard his dying words
G D
Ah, but that’s the way it goes
A
All the Federales say
G D
They could have had him any day
D G
They only let him slip away
A D
Out of kindness I suppose
Chorus
D G D A
Pancho was a bandit boys, his horse was fast as polished steel
D G A D
He wore his gun outside his pants for all the honest world to feel
Verse 3
D
Lefty, he can’t sing the blues
G D
All night long like he used to do
D
The dust that Pancho bit down south
G D
Ended up in Lefty’s mouth
A
The day they laid old Pancho low
G D
Lefty split for Ohio
D G
Where he got the bread to go
A D
There ain’t nobody knows
Chorus
D G D A
Pancho was a bandit boys, his horse was fast as polished steel
D G A D
He wore his gun outside his pants for all the honest world to feel
Verse 4
D
The poets tell how Pancho fell
G D
And Lefty’s livin’ in cheap hotels
D
The desert’s quiet and Cleveland’s cold
G D
And so the story ends we’re told
A
Pancho needs your prayers it’s true
G D
But save a few for Lefty too
D G
He only did what he had to do
A D
And now he’s growing old
Chorus
D G D A
Pancho was a bandit boys, his horse was fast as polished steel
D G A D
He wore his gun outside his pants for all the honest world to feel
Verse 5
D
A few gray Federales say
G D
They could have had him any day
D G
They only let him go so long
A D
Out of kindness I suppose
Practice tip: Willie Nelson’s version popularized this song. Try adding a walking bass line between D and G for an authentic country feel.
Dtap to play
Gtap to play
Atap to play
Emtap to play
Key
D Major
Difficulty
Intermediate
Harp Key
C Diatonic
Chords
D · G · A · Em
Pancho and Lefty Chords – Harmonica
Townes Van Zandt’s outlaw country masterpiece. Intermediate difficulty in the key of D.
Country Strum (4/4 Time)
↓↓↑↑↓↑
123456
Tip: This is a storytelling song. Keep the strum gentle during the verses and let the lyrics do the work.
Lyrics & Chords
Full Song
Verse 1
D
Livin’ on the road my friend
G D
Was gonna keep you free and clean
D
Now you wear your skin like iron
G D
And your breath’s as hard as kerosene
A
You weren’t your mama’s only boy
G D
But her favorite one it seems
D G
She began to cry when you said goodbye
A D
And sank into your dreams
Chorus
D G D A
Pancho was a bandit boys, his horse was fast as polished steel
D G A D
He wore his gun outside his pants for all the honest world to feel
Verse 2
D
Pancho met his match you know
G D
On the deserts down in Mexico
D
Nobody heard his dying words
G D
Ah, but that’s the way it goes
A
All the Federales say
G D
They could have had him any day
D G
They only let him slip away
A D
Out of kindness I suppose
Chorus
D G D A
Pancho was a bandit boys, his horse was fast as polished steel
D G A D
He wore his gun outside his pants for all the honest world to feel
Verse 3
D
Lefty, he can’t sing the blues
G D
All night long like he used to do
D
The dust that Pancho bit down south
G D
Ended up in Lefty’s mouth
A
The day they laid old Pancho low
G D
Lefty split for Ohio
D G
Where he got the bread to go
A D
There ain’t nobody knows
Chorus
D G D A
Pancho was a bandit boys, his horse was fast as polished steel
D G A D
He wore his gun outside his pants for all the honest world to feel
Verse 4
D
The poets tell how Pancho fell
G D
And Lefty’s livin’ in cheap hotels
D
The desert’s quiet and Cleveland’s cold
G D
And so the story ends we’re told
A
Pancho needs your prayers it’s true
G D
But save a few for Lefty too
D G
He only did what he had to do
A D
And now he’s growing old
Chorus
D G D A
Pancho was a bandit boys, his horse was fast as polished steel
D G A D
He wore his gun outside his pants for all the honest world to feel
Verse 5
D
A few gray Federales say
G D
They could have had him any day
D G
They only let him go so long
A D
Out of kindness I suppose
Practice tip: Willie Nelson’s version popularized this song. Try adding a walking bass line between D and G for an authentic country feel.