Hello everyone, I'm just looking for Townes lyrics and ran across mudcat dot.

Anyway, Townes Van Zant, on his live album, explains in length to the crowd where and how Poncho and Lefty was written. I'll let y'all enjoy the recording yourselves but will say it was written in a motel in Texas, according to Townes himself.

Personally, I got to hear stories about Townes while in Nashville. I'll spare you the details and get to the story teller's point; Mr. Van Zant was a prolific writter of extrodinary talent and a style to himself, and music row (as they call it in Nashville) knew it. Moreover, again according to the teller's POV, when the large corporations and or people like Harlen Howard need songs they often could get them by finding Townes, usually on the street somewhere, and putting him up in a cockroach motel and provide alchohol until he was finished writing. Then they would forget about him, again. Now I don't know how true this story is, but I do know the look in this fellows eyes as he told the story and I accept his words as true.

Coincidently, Townes died a week later in Nashville (at one of his former girlfriend or wives home). The paper had a fine bio on Townes and I recall them saying that no one expected much more than a pine box and a few people to say farewell. Amazingly, all types of musicians from all genres attended his funeral. So much so that music row was shut down as dozens, perhaps hundreds of people stood in line to pay their final respects to Townes while three prominent names in the business (I only remember Lyle Lovette, sorry) played alongside. Truly a beautiful goodbye.

Thanks for taking the time, Townes. Your music continues to live in our hearts.