This is the way I play this song, and it's one of the first ones I ever
learned. Not sure if it's correct compared to the original recording,
but I think it sounds good. Hope you enjoy it! By the way, this is my first tab submitted!
Chords used:
=========== =========== =========== =========== =========== ===========
||| D ||| ||| A ||| ||| G ||| ||| Bm ||| || Asus4 || || Asus2 ||
X=X=O====== X=O=======O ====O=O=O== X========== X=O=======O X=O=====O=O
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | O | O | | O O O | | O | | | | | O | | | O | | O O | | | | O O | |
| | | | O | | | | | | | O | | | | O | | | | O | | | | | O | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | O O | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
D (2) A (0) G (3) Bm (2) Asus4 (0) Asus2 (0)
(3) (2) (0) (3) (3) (0)
(2) (2) (0) (4) (2) (2)
(0) (2) (0) (4) (2) (2)
(x) (0) (2) (2) (0) (0)
(x) (x) (3) (x) (x) (x)
Intro: D A G D
1st VERSE:
D A
Livin' on the road my friend, was gonna keep us free and clean
G D A
But now you wear you skin like iron, and your breath's as hard as kerosene
G D G
You weren't your momma's only boy, but her favorite one, it seems
Bm G A Asus4 A Asus2 A
She began to cry when you said good-bye
G Bm A (quick change to D in the next verse)
And sank into your dreams
2nd VERSE:
D A
Pancho was a bandit, boys. His horse was fast, as polished steel
G D A
He wore his gun outside his pants, for all the honest world to feel
G D G
Pancho met his match you know, on the deserts down in Mexico
Bm G A Asus4 A Asus2 A G Bm A
Nobody heard his dying words Aw but that's the way it goes
CHORUS:
G D G
All the federales say, they could have had him any day
[ Tab from: https://www.guitartabs.cc/tabs/w/willie_nelson/poncho_and_lefty_crd_ver_2.html ]
Bm G A Asus4 A Asus2 A G Bm A
They only let him slip away Out of kindness, I suppose
3rd VERSE:
D A
Now Lefty he can't sing the blues, all night long, like he used to
G D A
The dust that Pancho bit down south, ended up in Lefty's mouth
G D G
The day they laid poor Pancho low, Lefty split for Ohio
Bm G A Asus4 A Asus2 A G Bm A
Where he got the bread to go There ain't nobody knows
CHORUS:
G D G
All the federales say, they could have had him any day
Bm G A Asus4 A Asus2 A G Bm A
They only let him slip away Out of kindness, I suppose
BREAK:
Same chords and timing as a verse...
D A G D A G D G Bm G A Asus4 A Asus2 A G Bm A
4th VERSE:
D A
Now poets sing how Pancho fell, and Lefty's living in cheap hotels
G D A
The desert's quiet and Cleveland's cold, and so the story ends we're told
G D G
Pancho needs your prayers, it's true. But save a few for Lefty too
Bm G A Asus4 A Asus2 A G Bm A
He only did what he had to do. And now, he's growing old
CHORUS:
G D G
All the federales say, they could have had him any day
Bm G A Asus4 A Asus2 A G Bm A
They only let him slip away Out of kindness, I suppose
FINAL CHORUS:
G D G
A few gray federales say, they could have had him any day
Bm G A Asus4 A Asus2 A G Bm A G D
They only let him go so long Out of kindness, I suppose
So that's how I interpret the song. It might be correct, it might not.
But I think it sounds great. Any comments are welcome, thanks.
