There has always been some debate about who did it better. Pancho and Lefty. Do you like the Townes Van Zandt version or Willie and Merle’s?

I am probably the biggest fan of the original cut the one written and performed by Townes Van Zandt himself. I have always preferred originals I believe that’s the way it was supposed to be and tbe way the songwriter intended it to be. Just yesterday I heard someone say that they thought Willie Nelson wrote the song.. ummmm NO!

Willie and the Hag did a bang up job on the song. I will give them credit for making it famous. I also adore the fact that they let Townes be in the music video for it. Those were special times back then. The Music Video in its newest form. Does anyone even watch them today?

Many have covered the song and if I had to listen to a cover of Pancho and Lefty I used to would say it would be the Willie Nelson/ Merle Haggard version, however in recent years I have changed my mind. Shane Smith and the Saints was my favorite cover of it. Recorded in rough form from the hills of Terlingua Texas in the middle of a Pandemic. Yeah that was up until yesterday.

The Golden Roses released their version of the song yesterday. According to John Mutchler of the Roses the song has already received over 100 streams. John appeared on the Podcast Texas River Tonk yesterday. He announced that this was the first release of a 4 song EP. The new EP will feature 4 covers that the Golden Roses most identify with their style of old school Dance Hall music.

I first found the Roses with their Debut album Terlingua Graveyard and I have nothing but love and respect for this band. They have also announced a new full album of their own songs in the near future.

Y’all give ‘em a spin and support the music. Many dates in and around Austin can be seen on their website. https://www.thegoldenrosesatx.com/ they will be in the Famed Luckenbach Dance Hall with Vincent Neil Emerson on May 12.

Livin on the road is gonna keep me free and clean.

Pancho.