Dtap to play
Gtap to play
Atap to play
Emtap to play
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What chords do you need to play "Pancho and Lefty"?
You need 4 intermediate-friendly chords: D, G, A and Em.
Is "Pancho and Lefty" easy to play on guitar?
It is rated intermediate and uses only 4 chords in the key of D, making it a good choice for players at that level.
What key is "Pancho and Lefty" in?
It is in the key of D.
Who wrote "Pancho and Lefty"?
It was written by Townes Van Zandt, and released in 1972.
Dtap to play
Gtap to play
Atap to play
Emtap to play
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What chords do you need to play "Pancho and Lefty"?
You need 4 intermediate-friendly chords: D, G, A and Em.
Is "Pancho and Lefty" easy to play on guitar?
It is rated intermediate and uses only 4 chords in the key of D, making it a good choice for players at that level.
What key is "Pancho and Lefty" in?
It is in the key of D.
Who wrote "Pancho and Lefty"?
It was written by Townes Van Zandt, and released in 1972.
Dtap to play
Gtap to play
Atap to play
Emtap to play
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What chords do you need to play "Pancho and Lefty"?
You need 4 intermediate-friendly chords: D, G, A and Em.
Is "Pancho and Lefty" easy to play on guitar?
It is rated intermediate and uses only 4 chords in the key of D, making it a good choice for players at that level.
What key is "Pancho and Lefty" in?
It is in the key of D.
Who wrote "Pancho and Lefty"?
It was written by Townes Van Zandt, and released in 1972.
Dtap to play
Gtap to play
Atap to play
Emtap to play
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What chords do you need to play "Pancho and Lefty"?
You need 4 intermediate-friendly chords: D, G, A and Em.
Is "Pancho and Lefty" easy to play on guitar?
It is rated intermediate and uses only 4 chords in the key of D, making it a good choice for players at that level.
What key is "Pancho and Lefty" in?
It is in the key of D.
Who wrote "Pancho and Lefty"?
It was written by Townes Van Zandt, and released in 1972.
Dtap to play
Gtap to play
Atap to play
Emtap to play
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What chords do you need to play "Pancho and Lefty"?
You need 4 intermediate-friendly chords: D, G, A and Em.
Is "Pancho and Lefty" easy to play on guitar?
It is rated intermediate and uses only 4 chords in the key of D, making it a good choice for players at that level.
What key is "Pancho and Lefty" in?
It is in the key of D.
Who wrote "Pancho and Lefty"?
It was written by Townes Van Zandt, and released in 1972.
Dtap to play
Gtap to play
Atap to play
Emtap to play
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What chords do you need to play "Pancho and Lefty"?
You need 4 intermediate-friendly chords: D, G, A and Em.
Is "Pancho and Lefty" easy to play on guitar?
It is rated intermediate and uses only 4 chords in the key of D, making it a good choice for players at that level.
What key is "Pancho and Lefty" in?
It is in the key of D.
Who wrote "Pancho and Lefty"?
It was written by Townes Van Zandt, and released in 1972.