Cross-posted in shorter form at Facebook Group: Townes Van Zandt: Best Songwriter Ever. I just did this last night. Emmylou Harris's version of “Pancho and Lefty” was probably the first Townes' song I hear, so include it here, although I use a live version from the Old Grey Whistle Test rather than than the one on her Luxury Liner album. I guess the song’s narrative is very vaguely inspired by the story of Pancho Villa (according to Townes, anyway, apparently Pancho did have a companion whose name meant “lefty” in Spanish, although he only found that out after he wrote the song). Still, if you are looking for a historically accurate account, you’re looking for the wrong thing in the wrong place; instead, the the song is just a brilliant mediation on loyalty and loss, the choices we make and their consequences. I would argue it is Protest Music, although of an amazingly subtle kind; in any event it is still an amazing song, and I love Emmylou's interpretation.