All the federales say they could’ve had him any day

They only let him go so long out of kindness, I suppose.

Here’s Townes Van Zandt with what has become my favorite Maundy Thursday hymn:

Here’s Emmylou:

Here’s Steve Earle:

Townes always insisted the “Pancho” in his song was not Pancho Villa, despite the reference to unheard dying words (Villa’s last words, allegedly, were “Tell them I said something”).

That line is a good one to ponder during Holy Week, with all of the inevitable sermons on Jesus’ final words from the cross. Who heard those dying words? Or the words of the centurion, for that matter?

Anyway, the Maundy take-away here is that Pancho needs your prayers, it’s true. But we’re not Pancho in this story. We’re Lefty.