Steve Earle - Pancho & Lefty (Live at Amoeba) 

I have loved Steve Earle since I was about 8 years old. I remember getting a CD player for and I immediately went out to find yard work to buy my first CD. When I added up my money at the end of the week I went to my mom and offered her gas money to take me to Walmart. She refused my money and when I returned to the car she surprised me with 2 more albums. I lost my mom not too long after and I still have my CDs to this day.

Steve is one of the best performing live musicians ever

Dear God. After watching and learning the heartworn highways recordings and hearing all the stories about him, Guy and Townes, and then seeing him now, seeing how much time has passed, this song feels haunting. And the way he sings it, the way his voice hums low on some parts and rattles on others, one of the few songs that all came together to give me chills.

Steve Earle has something in his music that is not common...heart and honesty

He is so talented. I still think "Guitar Town" is one of the top country songs ever.

my god, this man just has so much soul in his voice. Its Spine tingling to hear him sing.

Towns would love this. You're an excellent folk artist Steve. Love you man

God bless this man. He is one of the remaining old-school poets who hung with heroes.

One of my favorite versions of one of the best songs ever written.

Absolutely gripping cover of an epic song by a wonderful man.

I was in the crowd for this and it was amazing.

Steve has lived a life like Poncho! Glad to see Steve get his act together. I to had a addiction. But its behind me now! A good wife and Jesus saved my Dumb Ass. Nice job Earle. Shawn

preach it brother. Steve the real deal. Saw him live only twice but been my main dude for thirty years

This is a great song and a amazing performence from Steve Earle

This is one of the excellent covers on Steve's tribute album to one of the greatest songwriters who ever lived Townes Van Zandt. I can listen to Steve Earle sing anytime.

Played at my dad's funeral. Makes me cry every time.

"the dust that Pancho bit down south ended up in Lefty's mouth" Great line, so expressive.

Great music from a Great dude..

Awesome! As always, Steve. Being in my life's music since half of my life and always goosebumps. God bless him and Townes.

Steve is an awesome musician loved him for years.......great rendition brother Townes would be proud....

I'm sorry, anyone who thinks this song was written by someone other than Townes, you're wrong. This is from Steve's tour of "Townes". His tribute album to TVZ.

Thanks Steve I was born too a truck driving man. 1959 . I went on longhaul in 1978. I respect how you pour every ounce of "feelings into your ART. Keep the knees in the breeze. Hammer-down!!! Shake shake!!!◇€Z◇

I will be seeing Steve live at the end of this month. I was lucky enough to meet him a year ago. Very nice guy.

Thank you Steve Earle this is a great cover

This might be my favorite recording of this song I've heard yet. The writing of "and sank into your dreams" as a description for moving away from/losing a parent is the most perfect poetry in the english language.

It only took Guitar Town for me to love him. The rest is history and many songs.

Steve held holds Townes in high regard and if I can't hear Townes do his songs live anymore then by gosh I wanna hear Steve do em. I'd love to hear Steve , Emmylou , Rodney Crowell and good ol Otis Gibbs make an album of Townes tunes. I nominate Steve to do Pancho and Lefty and Otis would do good with the ballad of Ira Hayes.

Never beat the original. Of course him and Townes were very close for a long time. But Steve just knocked out this song. Perfect.

Hey Steve, Happy 60th. We are all a long way from those nights at the Old Quarter. We were just kids really while Rex helped you guys create Houston history and a hell of a lot of great memories. Were grey now but we still hold and cherish those early days. Thanks for the memories.

the best & most believable version ever!

Love this...Townes lives on always!! Townes would be so proud of you Steve...you have been a great and successful musician...mentor...and teacher...we need to hold on to this music

steve you are a legend...what a great version of this song...keep up the great work

Wow Townes would love this.

Love Steve Earle!! So much Raw talent and a voice that touches your soul!!

This song is great because it tells just enough of the story to let your imagination wild. Steve covers it well. My favorite Steve Earle songs are Goodbye, and I’m Still In Love with You. Give them a listen.

Steve like many of the greatest just gets better with age and he was great 30 years ago. Time is kind to survivors with a penchant for studying history. I can only think the Spirit of Townes is constantly in any front row egging Steve on. It shows in how Steve keeps Townes spirit alive.

Bless you, Steve for still bein' with us - You, Sir, are THE SHIT!!!

never grow tired of an amazing artist...love him

WHO thumbs Down this dont know Music this man is a fucking poet

Honest to God, I can remember whenever I was a kid, early 80s, actually saying a prayer for lefty… Actually, I probably didn’t understand the song well enough and probably said a prayer for Pancho and Lefty, but this song I thought was real. I can TOTALLY remember being depressed by this song. Plus, it was just a hard time, sad time for me… I was eight years old whenever I remember the song affecting me so I’d say probably 1984. It crushed me. Haha, and islands in the stream... at this time I felt like the only kid whose parents were going through a divorce and it was really hard.

The best. Thanks for your music, all of it!

steve earle = total badass end discussion

Steve Earle on David Letterman once said that he wrote "Copperhead Road" specifically for the mandolin...he said that as far as he knew he was the first person to EVER write a song specifically for that instrument before and therefore..."Nobody can tell me I did it wrong"... Well played Sir...VERY well played indeed. I have admired you and your music ever since...

Going to go see him on Nov 4th in Winnipeg! Can't wait!!

Where would we be without songwriters, bless Townes Van Zandt

this has gotta be the best cover of this TVZ piece..... SE is one heck of an artist... more.. a great songwirter/performer of my generation...thanks SE

Love his interpretation of his mentor's song and also love the close up photography. He's a master. Suck it up, the rest of you.

One of my favorite songs and another great version

Fantastic. I saw Steve Earl live with Pearl Jam and it was awesome!!

Steve brings a new edge to every song everytime he sings it...

Damn. I needed this today more than ever

Great tunes man, been listening to you since I can remember. I hope to see you in an acoustic show some day.

Such a great meaning! Such a great story!! Great cover!!

This is the best version of this song I have heard. Steve Earle loved Townes van Zandt and middle-named his son Townes. Townes said this song wrote itself. I think Earle understood it more than even Townes. Watching his face when he sings the poignant lines you see it.

im a fan of Steve's for over 30 years, love you Steve

Thank you.this is aweome.

Your a legend I’m fortunate to hear

So good. Thanks for sharing

Thanks for sharing this.

Thank you.

There s something special about this man! I've been a fan of his songs forever!

steve earl is great; keep your heart true, sing like there is no tomorrow; but still pass on yesterday....life will give you the time; you just have to find it....easy...depends what you are talking about.....

Worthy effort, Steve...... Townes is smiling. Thank you.

Yeah covering Townes 👏👍 Respect

Beautiful.

Steve has highway dust and country road gravel in that voice! just as good as Townes the Texas trubador

Great tribute to his idol... awesome....

What a guy, for many years now he has been a proper musician.

Maybe the nicest version I've heard ever. Very good song and Steve does a fantastic job!

Great concert!!

Beautiful job.

great song!one of my favs.

not surprised Steve knocks this cover out of the park.

Fucking love this version

amazing song....so touching. so much into it.

That was great

Steve Earle you certainly channeled Townes on Lefty and Pancho.

Verry seldome is the remake better than original but this is the real deal. Steve Earle is the man.

just wonderful!

Our best story teller!

Wonderful. Love from Sweden

just awesome!

Only cover I've seen in a while with the right lyrics.

Classic song, well done!

really nice video. thank you for uploading. I think Steve Earle really loved TVZ.

Man whatta true blue folk player. Love this guy. Just Steve and his axe. What a bad a** rendition. 5 stars brother. If you dont have his TOWNES CD get it.

Steve channels Townes for some lucky folk. Like us.

best cover of this song

a friend of mine died today. Steve / Townes are the only things i can listen to

There’s few “Perfect Songs”, it seems Townes wrote one right here . 🎵

Does bring the tears

i love you for this..all around townes..

Keep up the good work Steve!

Definitely the best cover of this song. It might even be better than the original. Townes is great, but this is something special.

love steve earl

One of the very few heroes left...

A Great Version of the Willie & Merle Classic. "Great Job Steve"!

The Best Song writer ever. A pure musician.

Its great. Love all of Steve Earles music...there seems to be some people on here who dont have anything nice to say about him so why they on here? Anyway, he is a great artist, and as far as his thoughts I agree with most...Either way, I have an open mind and love to hear what he has to say, as for narrow minded people , well, its sad, you miss alot of good things and live inside your little box of thoughts...lighten up. Keep up the tunes Steve. We love ya