Country Music's Greatest Story Song 

I feel that Townes doesn’t get enough love, as he’s had such a massive impact on country music and songwriting in general. Happy to see this!

Gimmie all the Van Zandt , Guy Clark and John Prine love.

I always interpreted the Federales' boasts as wishful thinking. Sure, they SAY they could have caught Pancho anytime they wanted to, but it finally took Lefty's betrayal to bring him down. It was face saving. The "out of kindness I suppose" struck me as sarcasm on the narrator's part. "We could've had him whenever we wanted!" "Suuure"

waiting around to die is another amazing song

Its like he knew the *exact* topic I was desperately wanting covered. *chef kiss*

Criminally underrated.

Townes has been one of my heroes since I found my mom's copy of Live at the Old Quarter as a young fella. It's a shame his demons won the battle in the end. But he never stopped singing, playing, and writing beautiful music.

Ooh I'm so glad you did a video about Townes Van Zandt! He really often doesn't get the recognition he deserves, while he is just as good as Leonard Cohen, Neil Young and the like. Master songwriter

Townes is such an amazing poet man. I'm so glad Polyphonic finally made a video about Townes. He gets overshadowed by so many other songwriters of his time but deserves to be given just as much (if not more) attention. My respect for this channel has grown even greater now that you've made this video. It's hard finding anyone even mentioning Townes's name anymore. But the man was a genius. And Dylan admired him as well.

"How does Townes Van Zandt tell a story?" By bleeding out of his heart, liver and mind all at the same time. It's a one way road, there's no going back and I have seen the map.

I actually gasped in excitement when I saw this notification, I just recently got into Townes Van Zandt (and the whole "Heartworn Highways" crew as I refer to them) and I love "Pancho and Lefty". "Tecumseh Valley" is another great story song of his- devastating, but beautiful.

If you're new to Van Zandt, I recommend Dead Flowers, Lungs, and Waitin' Around to Die

Quicksilver Daydreams of Maria is IMO one of the most beautiful songs ever written. Townes is one of the greats.

One of the few CDs I didn't throw away when I lost my job and my house and a good part of my sanity way back in 2008. I still have it. I like the rawness and honesty of the Van Zandt version on that compilation CD more than the over produced version of Willie Nelson. I don't have anyway to play cds anymore, but I still hang to this one.

I'm sure there are a lot of people who say the same thing: I don't listen to much country music, but I loves Townes Van Zandt. My favorite story song from him is Marie. Such a gut wrenching song.

one of the greatest singer/songwriters ever

I sing this song as a lullaby to my son. He loves it.

First became aware of Townes after hearing the Be Good Tanyas' haunting rendition of "Waiting around to Die". His music never fails to make me question my own morality, and my place in the world. He holds a special place in my heart, he will never be forgotten.

Could not get here fast enough. For my money, one of the greatest songs ever written.

I know this video probably won't get you as many views as your usual ones, but I'm so grateful you did an episode on Townes. As a young French guy I have no ties to country music whatsoever, but his music hit me like a truck the first time I heard it, and with a friend we became fans of his. His story is tragic really, but his music is something I always come back to when I feel nostalgic, sad or just in quiet moments. Thank you very much for this Polyphonic !

Never clicked so fast, such an underrated, talented artist. And so many hopeless, lonesome but beautiful and badass songs of his.

Probably my favorite song by him is 'Silver Ships of Andilar'. It tells a haunting story using elements from fantasy story telling

Y'know a songwriter is great when famous musicians not only cover your songs but also write songs about you.

I’m reading all the comments here and I’m so pleased that there are so many that appreciate Townes music. I was apart of his life thru the years of the Old Quarter. Those were the greatest memories of my life,,,,.,Music flowed from that little dive club in downtown Houston and you never new who would be stopping in. Lightning Hopkins, Guy Clark. Even in our personal life it was common to sit around and hear music from ZZ Top…. Still to this day, my my takes me back to those memories so beautifully kept in my mind. BTW…. His humor was magnificent., when I broke up with Townes he hired 6 winos to come sing outside my door for hours. They were horrible. It’s amazing how Mad Dog 29-20 will motivate a wino! I’m sure Townes was laughing! 🤣

I saw a clip where someone talked about Pancho and Lefty being #1 after Willie and Merle recorded it but Townes was in a rundown state ran rehab. I love watching the music video with Willie and Merle because there are cameos of Townes. He had such a sad ending but because of his talent he will never be forgotten.

I know the Willie Nelson / Merle Haggard version was probably the best known (title track from their album and a #1 country hit) but I always thought it was over-produced. Much preferred the Emmylou Harris version.

Townes is my favourites artist. He’s so underrated. Seeing this in my feed was honestly shocking!

Steve Earle’s tribute,to Townes, Ft. Worth Blues, is equally beautiful.

One of the greatest songwriters to have ever lived. Incredibly underrated.

Live at the Old Quarter is such a great live album. If you’ve never heard Townes I highly recommend it

I'm even more impressed with the music, particularly the melody. A near-perfectly written song

See, my first time listening to this after I watched the video, I think I picked something up, and it centers around one question: Who is the “he” in the chorus? “All the federated say, they could’ve had HIM any day.” I don’t think that it’s just Pancho for every chorus. The first one, is pretty definitively him, per the interview where he talks about the meaning of the “hang around” line. The second one though “they only let him slip away, out of kindness I suppose.” But they didn’t let Pancho slip away, he was caught and hanged. They did, however, let Lefty slip away, as the reward for his betrayal. Then, at the end of the song, the chorus repeats twice. I believe that in doing this, the “him” changes. In the end of the song, I think Van Zant is addressing that line, “only let him go so wrong…” to both men, each in turn. I’m not saying this is right with any authority. I could TOTALLY be wrong, it’s just something that I came up with listening to the song.

This video is such perfect timing. I just discovered Townes Van Zandt and fell in love with his music, especially this song.

Love polyphonic. Love Townes, my all time favorite artist. Glad he did this

As a fan of this channel I’m excited that TvZ gets some attention. He’s a songwriters’ songwriter whose influence cannot be overestimated. Though the analysis of this song might be stretched here and there, I can see a lot of it in there... Worth mentioning that Townes died on the same day of the year as his hero Hank Williams, January 1st.

Townes van Zandt's music is amazing. One of the all-time greats.

Very VERY glad you made a video about this legend. He’s been one of my heroes for years and if you get even 1 person introduced to TVZ via this video then it was a special and good thing.

A great song to do a deep dive on would be “Lungs” by Van Zandt. It’s an amazing example of poetry in music.

There’s something beautiful in the voice of Townes van Zandt. I haven’t watched the video yet but I’m welling with emotion already. I’m glad you did this video :)

This was greatly needed. Townes was a master

OMG A TOWNES VAN ZANDT VIDEO?! Legendary

Thank you so much for covering Townes Van Zandt. He really does deserve more recognition.

Greatest songwriter of all time, Dylan is the only one who can compare

I love how this music and animation video tells a story without using any words. The visuals speak volumes, and the music evokes so many emotions. It's a true work of art!

Greatest songwriter that ever lived.

Townes is the most amazing country artist nobody knows. His music always takes me back to Colorado

I swear, as a kid I can absolutely remember at night praying for Pancho and Lefty before I went to sleep. Of course this was the Willie and Merle Haggard version… At that time I didn’t know about Townes Van Zandt. I was about seven years old.

love the respect for TVZ!! One of the most underrated songwriters for sure

Finally, a great video on Townes Van Zandt! Thank you!

With the mention of Boy Named Sue, I highly recommend Shel Silverstein as an amazing story writer, with three songs he'd done in particular that I've always loved. 'Carry Me, Carrie', 'Last Morning', and 'Kiss It Away' (especially), officially recorded and released by Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show are really great examples of his storytelling, along with an unreleased track (kicking around here on youtube somewhere) titled 'Nobody Hears What I Say' about early environmental/humanitarian efforts. As for Dr. Hook, I can't remember off the top of my head who wrote it, but 'The Wonderful Soup Stone' is another great story and (with most of their early recordings) a great showcase of their vocal harmonies.

"Townes Van Zandt is the best songwriter in the whole world and I'll stand on Bob Dylan's coffee table in my cowboy boots and say that."

Greatest song ever. Known that for nearly 40 years.

The album was called The Late Great Townes van Zandt because he had suffered from a heroin overdose and when the paramedics found him his heart had stopped. When Townes awoke in the hospital he lamented that he never recorded any hits in his life, but that posthumous success was far from inevitable. He had to get to work to publicize the untimely demise that would color his writing with a tint of tragedy. Nothing in the song says that the two had ever even met. Lefty just leaves, instead of singing out his truth he borrowed trouble from a man who couldn't expect to be repaid ever. Pancho's story ain't Lefty's to tell, but it ain't no story for the Federales neither. Who do stories belong to and what is one picker's word worth?

A very underrated singer/songwriter

Townes may be my favorite country artist

Thanks for discussing this. His "Live at the Older Quarter" version is my favorite. Shawn R., Mo-Mutt Music/Sacred & Secular

I've heard the song so many times, and I still struggle to get though it without shedding a tear.

Awesome, always waiting for coverage of townes

Thank you so much for this one

Another great video! Thanks again!

There is a beautiful retrospective album of Towne's songs calle "Poet." The album is some of his most enduring tunes performed by the likes of Delbert McClinton, Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris and Van Zant's own son. Worth a listen.

I would kill to see some more videos from you on more of townes songs, great video!

When I started collecting vinyl 7 years ago, a vinyl shop owner in Minneapolis recommended Live at the Old Quarter. This album is one of my ATFs. I had never heard of Pancho and Lefty until then, and, man, this song goes in deep.

Love that you made a video about one of my favourite songs/ artists - keep this theme up with one on Blaze Foley!

This is excellent. Thanks for doing this.

Alternative interpretation for the last chorus: “they only let him go so wrong, out of kindness I suppose” is actually about lefty

Thank you for sharing this great video.

A lyrical analysis on If I Could Only Fly would be amazing.

"Marie" is Townes most cheerful little ditty. AINT IT FUN BEING FROM TEXAS!

Justice. Friendship. Art. Lived what He loved.

I would love to see a video about Pete Doherty. One of the most underrated lyrcist/poets (especilly in the states).

Nice contribution. The Federales didn't want to catch Him. They were alive in the Wild West living thier own dream of adventure - of Youth, purpose. These were not Ordinary Federales but as Townes once sung they were ''Great Federales''. Great Federales Realised Themselves in the bandit. They dared not catch him, they saw themselves in the outlaw. There is much that can be gleaned from these lyrics. The song at it's deepest is a mirror of Ontology. Life is in the living NOT in the recalling. The great West has been tamed but at what cost - one has the safe vista the visage of the West and now that it has been tamed one no longer has the ADVENTURE of the West -the life edifiying preserve of facing the great unknown. The Federales were wise - not only to see themselves in the outlaw but they too recognised that not all wildfires should be put out (let him go .. out of kindness I suppose) - If you capture and eliminate all that is Wild in man he will become as dull and as tamed and devoid of advent like the Wild unforgiving landscape that has given way to predictability to certainty to ''old age''.

Thanks a lot for showing this under appreciated genius som love.

What a beautiful thoughtful presentation. thanks

Thank you for covering him. He’s one of my favorite artist and I hardly hear anybody talking about him.

would love to see something done on John Prines lyrical brilliance

What a beautiful song and analysis! Thank you a lot!

This is what I mean when I say I love country ❤️ thanks for talking about townes, for me he’s such an appreciated genius.

That was a really great video essay. Thanks.

I think that country is the best music genre, lyric wise. It just feels so down to earth

Loved Townes with a firey passion. Still do.

Wow. I just learned that song today. I thought it would be harder but his chord choices were very much like the ones I chose when I wrote music and performed in Nashville. I always thought while songwriters came in from the cold, famous and new, that If when my turn came I had played this song before all of them it would have changed my life. So I intend to learn it to perfection and sing it when I can.

Beautiful video and analysis

Townes is the realest, and for me greatest musician there ever was.

A great overview and interpretation!

I love seeing Townes on this channel. Your content is great.

All of Townes' songs have such a genuine feel to them. He is truly underrated and I am so glad that someone is finally talking about him.

Wow been waiting for a townes video forever. Unmatched

This video opened to my mind to a whole new outlook on this song

Please never stop doing this!

Marty Robbins always had my favorite story songs, and the way the songs are so brilliantly written- it's not like modern music at all.

I saw Townes shortly before he died, in Rotown, Rotterdam (the audio's on youtube). Sat on the floor right in front of him. RIP.

Great song and thank you for this tribute to it. Showing the parallels with Van Zandt himself adds a richness and depth to the song.

Do you have any idea how awesome that sounds? Dive bars and cheap motels? Two of my favorite things. Do you think someone booked his tours?

Why they haven't made a major movie of his life is beyong me. Under appreciated genius.

While I’m no expert on the matter, I heard this story of Townes and Pancho in Ken Burns Country Music, ep 7 I believe. While the ep does not delve as deeply into the complexity of the song, lyrics and meaning, it does convey the story of the song as it pertains to it being covered by other artists, finally gaining its long overdue notoriety and praise in the rich duet by Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings. I like to think Townes would be proud

It felt a little dissonant to hear the narrator and Van Zandt's voice going at the same time when the lyrics were shown. Both are fine on their own, but the combo of the more impartial and analytic narration and the more soulful singing doesn't jive too well together, and I think it deflated the video a bit. Aside from that though, this video was immaculately done as always. Townes' is a favorite of mine, and it's great to see Poly giving him the spotlight. ^_^

Great subject choice!

I enjoy listening to all types of music. Though for now, I have a Pancho Villa story. Any anyone can find it in Douglas, Arizona. In the Gadsden Hotel there is a staircase with a broken step due to him trying to ride his horse up the stairs.

Nice discussion of a great Townes Van Zandt song thanks