Tim Henderson has written a wide range of marvelous songs. This is one of the toughest to listen to. I cry. Every time. He's a delightful, interesting person, too. Not a native Texan, but we're always glad to accept a fella who tells a great story. He lives here now, but he's originally (I think) from West Virginia. He describes the Panhandle by saying you can gaze out into the countryside for miles and miles and miles with NOTHING to interrupt the eye--or (in West Texas) with NOTHING to see but miles and miles and miles.... He's been there, so he knows.
In Mexico and Cent. Amer. the "curandero" was/is the local medical practitioner--usually folk medicine.
This is a very sad song. Warn folks, pass out hankies.    Tw