They only let him go so long
But save a few for Lefty too
And your breath as hard as kerosene
But her favorite one, it seems
They could have had him any day
And where he got the bread to go
So the story ends, we're told
And now he's growing old
Well, Pancho met his match, you know
On the deserts down in Mexico
A few great Federales say
But that's the way it goes
They could have had him any day
They only let him hang around
The desert's quiet and Cleveland's cold
Now the poets tell how Pancho fell
They only let him go so long
They could have had him any day
Lefty split for Ohio
And all the Federales say
Pancho was a bandit boy
He just did what he had to do
For all the honest world to feel
He wore his gun outside his pants
And all the Federales say
And few great Federales say
They could have had him any day
Now you wear your skin like iron
Well Lefty, he can't sing the blues
You weren't your mama's only boy
The day they laid poor Pancho low
She began to cry when you said goodbye
That ain't nobody knows
Sank into your dreams
Out of kindness, I suppose
Ended up in Lefty's mouth
His horse was fast as polished steel
Pancho needs your prayers, it's true
Out of kindness, I suppose
All night long like he used to
And nobody heard his dying words
They only let him slip away
The dust that Pancho bit down south
And Lefty's living in a cheap hotel
