Townes Van Zandt - Pancho & Lefty (Live in Austin, 1975) [RESTORED FOOTAGE] 

If your song makes a cowboy cry, that’s when you know it’s good.

This video should be in the Smithsonian. It is a national treasure.

He deserved more recognition than he ever received.

Can you even imagine the music that we never heard because there weren't any cameras or recorders just campfires, hard work and storytellers. Thank God we have these videos and songs passed down...

I actually got to see Townes, in Boston in the early 70's. I was a high school kid with no friends into music like this. Went alone and I'm glad I did.

One of the most beautiful and poignant songs ever written. It's power is clear to be seen in the face and eyes of The Man Behind Townes. The man was a genius. Ahead of his time. An outlaw in every sense. His death was a tragedy in that I don't believe this was the last song of this caliber he had in him. His loss is one that the whole human race suffers for. His is a great story of redemption. For his unbridled appetite for drugs which I believed stemmed from his deep understanding of The Human Condition and inability to cope with people who could be so horrible. While he was always good natured . He needed to find peace somewhere and we are all poorer for his loss. We love you townes! You will never be forgotten!

A song that puts you in a whole different time period

I love how his friend sitting at the table gets teared up. What a beautiful moment in somebody's kitchen .

Imagine drinking a beer and eating a country dinner while Townes plays this next to you

the black old timer in the background says it all, you know great music when you hear it

Man, I got choked up watching the old guy tear up!

I love this version because it is so down to earth and humble. No bells and whistles just like a toyota truck thats all rusted out but keeps running

This is what an epic ballad is all about by an epic songwriter.

One of my favorite Townes songs! Just fantastic! We are lucky to have had him if only for a little while...

The story of how this song came to him blew my mind. I've loved this song for years. I never get tired of it.

I sing this song and love the words and emotional content...Townes was such a brilliant songwriter and his songs have given me and many others joy...what a gift he had.

In 1979 I was tending bar in a restaurant in Nashville, Ruby Tuesday’s. Townes and a couple of his friends sat at the bar for drinks and dinner. What an interesting evening. Great talent and I’m honored to have had a bit of time to talk with him.

Pops in the background is listening to the story.. Shows the power of the narrative.

Incomparable. Chilling. Two lives pared down to a llittle song by a busted old cowboy. Thank you, Townes. Thanks to all who brought this great work to us to witness. Townes: if there is another side once we're done, I'll see you on the far bank of that dark river. If I am fortunate, we'll get a chance to sit about and sing a song.

Few songs are as beautiful as this one.

Why is it that he truly doesn't have the greatest voice but it is yet so buttery and like a fine wine?? RIP TVZ Hell of a picker boys

The first time I watched this I was affected emotionally by the tears apparently shed by by uncle Seymour at a critical point in this song. Much later I discovered that the footage in this section was spliced from a different song, "Waiting around to die" which was in the movie "Heartworn Highways", whereas "Pancho & Lefty" was an outtake and is not featured in the movie.

He was a local hero in Houston in late '60s early '70s...radio, concerts, albums

Heartbreaking stuff. Long live Townes.

1975 was a different world. I miss it...

Townes and Bob Dylan are both proof, you don't need a great voice... You need a real voice, and something to really sing about.

I can't tell you how much I appreciate this website, but it's one of my favorites! I first heard this song in a performance by Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson that really got to me, so hearing it from the person who wrote it has been a treat!

I was living in a shop where I was employed to climb and remove and prune trees, the ones other companies didn’t want. I had a mentor that turned me onto Townes. I tripped mushrooms every afternoon for over a month with my Pitt bulls stockin the fire to warm the shop overnight and listened to Townes. I will go happy when I finally go.

Great work. The Townes clips stole that whole documentary/film. "I'll play a medley of my hit.."

never thought I'd see Townes on this channel but a welcome surprise for sure

one of the best country songs of all time.

I’ve watched this video countless times, only to just now see Uncle Seymour seemingly look up in the heavens and remember what it must have been like when his momma “Began to cry when he said goodbye, sank into your dreams.” What a moment. I can’t believe I just now noticed it.

I lived in Austin in 75, had some great times and some great music.

The part of the video where the older man is crying is from a different performance, actually. It's from when he plays "Waiting Around To Die".

One of the most human and beautiful moments I’ve ever witnessed. That tuff ole cow poke wouldn’t cry easy over anything ya know. That’s it. That’s why God is real. Because tuff ole gentleman like him still feel that and because this song got wrote.

Townes and Dylan are my two favs of all time. Thanks so much for this.

Some realize early this whole show is temporary and some hang on to hope to the bitter end. Some live and some are merely alive its not up to us to say whos right or whos wrong. I for one will keep living while im alive and only a few like towens has what it takes to enjoy the misery of living free.

An amazing song writer and performer! Only wish I could have seen him live!

Fortunate to have grown up in and around the Texas towns he played/lived. Remember well just walking into a place downtown Houston, or in Austin, etc... Forever grateful, thanks for making my afternoon warmer. Thanks SP, take care, debs

This is just beautiful. Beautiful!

Raw and Rare.I love this one.

Emmylou harris sang this song the first time I heard it. She has a lovely voice. Its nice to hear the song writer sing it. It sure is making the man behind him emotional.

This song was quoted in my murder trial: “he wore his gun outside his pants, for all the honest world to feel…”. This man sang real life. …not guilty. “and that’s the way it goes.”

One of a kind. Made me cry too. Strikes cord in you heart.

No words.... This is *powerful* and *beautiful* beyond words, RIP

Prolly the most underrated dude ever...wish I could see him sing White Freightliner on ACL..

This is the first time I heard this Legend ....He did not disappoint.😲😲😯

My dad love this song. By Townes no one else. There’s a story on a road trip but we will leave it there.

Amo essas músicas do velho oeste bela história me emocionei.

Holy fluppin sheeaht!! What a gem of a video. This is super classic.

I don't know why but this song always reminds me of my first husband and his partner (cops) patrolling the border of Mexico in the back country of San Rafael Valley.... Rest in peace both of you.

Love the Elder smoking a blunt...perfect setting for this song. Brilliantly played...

old black man and the hotness smoking a cig in the background says it all with the vibe

Many others recorded this, but this is my FAVORITE, clean , heartfelt , Genuine , Smooth to the soul ..

Um mostro o maior compositor da América!

Thanks so much for posting this. I've been singing this song for years and I am truly humbled.

Great song. What a beautiful restoration! Great job!!!

still my favorite song of all time.. thank you so much.

“They only let him go so wrong… out of kindness I suppose” Just in one line, he says so freaking much.

A man, a guitar, and a great song

I suddenly feel the urge to stand on Bob Dylans coffee table.

Townes was such a great songwriter ! r.i.p. ; (

That's really fine. So many covers just skip over the words with no emotion...Only Townes can do it justice.

Man, to see an old timer like that tear up get's you in the feels something serious.....

The most moving performance and footage of all time

I can listen to this song again and again no matter who sings it. Thank you Townes for that and more, of course!

“Like a gift you’re still bringin,”Guy Clark.Thanks old friend.

Thanks for your electronic mixing and restoration on this--not a simple matter!

Good God, what a song, what a rendition !!!

Thanks. His "Live at the Old Quarter" is one of my favourite albums and it's nice to see a live performance with decent sound.

Lots of big love. Thanks for the upload. Bless you

Such a great video of one of my favorite songs ever🎶🕊️💜🕊️🎶 Thank you for sharing it 🙏

This is so special, thank you ❤

I worked for his uncle and went with his cousin. Back in the early 1980's something happened and the law was after him. He came down to San Antonio to hide out at his uncle's house. He had lawyer working on it so he need some where to hide out. Townes was there around a month. He played guitar every day. And slow on drinking some times. He could play guitar. He could play alot of old country songs. He was quite the character. He could stop playing guitar. But the guitar or a story in his mind. He could be talking to all of the and get up walk away and go somewhere to play a song or a tune it was the guitar that was his mind. It was like 24/7 guitar that was Townes life.

A treasure. Thank you SP 🐷 ❤

Legend. Willie did him great justice.Kudos to Merle, also. But, goddamn.

Wow, amazing work. Thank you!

I met him shortly before this when my boyfriend interviewed him for The Daily Texan. Glenn Jones (RIP) was my ticket to ... the rest of my life. I will always love him for (screw)ing up and us getting to move to San Francisco in January 1975 to, in his words, "keep an eye on the situation down in Carmel." Therein lies a tale; I'll have to wait to tell it. I pray there's time and an easing of statutes of limitations ... Texas woulda still had me jailed. Rest in Peace, Fat Charlie (Pritchard). Now that you and Glenn are both gone and Rhett Beard has joined you on the other side too, there's just me left to tell our story. I still laugh and cry.

Glad u took it, what an incredible once in a lifetime experience I wish I had it. Townes van Zandt, John prine, guy Clark all my top favorites ❤ also would have loved to have met Seymore

Masterpiece......Musically but also as a piece of film. Great testimony. Very authentic. Even I (the French number one "redneck" hater ) could not unheard or unsee what I just witnessed, I'm still under the spell. oh man.... The love and understanding in the eyes of this woman (the way she moves and feels the rhythm of the ballad), "Uncle Seymour" who lived thru segregation and yet preserved his soul from any anger or hate, and decided to focus on wisdom (you can tell). The affection these 3 seems to have for each other... So simple and yet beautiful... Even the acoustic is perfect, the raw beauty of his singing. This is truly something.....

This is the definition of Art!

Gotta love Townes. Roseann Cash did an awesome cover of Pancho and Lefty also.

I got to open for Townes when that became a HIT for Willie at place called EMMAJOES. I'd never had more than 5 people listen to me before and when faced with a crowd I sucked. The Management were so mad at me they wanted to have the Biker security fk-me-up, but Townes came in, saw I was in trouble and made peace before I was hammered. 🙂

I've never heard your sound before...Love it!!You have it!!Kick Ass on the acoustic and chilling voice!! Thank you...

Townes tells a story of watching a TV movie WEEKS AFTER HE WROTE PANCHO AND LEFTY and the premise of the movie were the characters in this song! AFTER THE FACT!!

Such great songwriting! 🫶🏻 🎸🤠 🎶📝

i watch this video at least once every 2 weeks . and it makes me feel the same way every time i watch it. it's just something about the song

Nothing but tears here when this song lives

Incredible. Moving. Timeless.

Your channel is a gem of youtube 💎 big love from South Korea

I come back to this and live.

He was hard down during this time in his life. He got clean for a while but relapsed in the 80s.

So heartfelt and raw....one of the best bits of music ever filmed.

Best version!! 🤠👍

The best yeehaw there ever was

my vote for greatest written song in the singer songwriter era....yep.

I was fortunate to hear Willie and Jody sing this song on three or four different occasions. The video is also a masterpiece of course with bone chilling harmonies. Thanks, Pig!

JESUS, I LOVE YOU MAN

See you on the other side of that dark river, Mr.VanZandt. Perhaps we might sing a song or two. Good luck and a fine New Year to you and yours.

A true treasure……we are so fortunate to have this forever….