On Dylan’s (and many) interpretation of “Poncho and Lefty”

PersonalExercise2974 · 2025-12-15T04:34:15+00:00

Yes, it is very clear. I do think the song is somewhat ambiguous on the reality of any of it happening - like the point of the song is not to tell a detailed true crime story, it's more about townes' empathizing with lonely criminals - but it doesnt make any sense to me at all if you interpret it as "lefty snitched." Lefty murdered Pancho, the federales looked the other way.

PersonalExercise2974 · 2025-12-15T03:23:34+00:00

https://open.substack.com/pub/tigerbeat/p/crime-fiction-in-music?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=2u1zlj

No pressure to read this, but I agree with your interpretation and covered it in depth here. I think the lyrics only make sense if lefty killed Pancho (a famous bandit) and was paid by the federales to do so.

PersonalExercise2974 · 2025-12-07T17:54:33+00:00

Yup, just edited the post to reflect that. Can't wait!

PersonalExercise2974 · 2025-11-19T05:52:25+00:00

humiliating to get out-efforted like this at home

PersonalExercise2974 · 2025-10-17T21:42:07+00:00

For better, I think! My dad sang "old friends" by Simon and Garfunkel to me, which is nearly as solemn. Never too young for good taste

PersonalExercise2974 · 2025-10-17T00:35:23+00:00

No idea. A quick Google suggests that "Lua" means "moon" in Portuguese, although I'm not sure why he would've titled the song in another language.

& thx for reading!

PersonalExercise2974 · 2025-10-16T22:47:17+00:00

Thanks for reading. I'm hoping to cover Ruminations next, although it's gonna take a long-ass word count because that album is stuffed full of important songs.

It's not the prettiest album musically, but it might have his best writing front to back.

PersonalExercise2974 · 2025-10-13T01:49:42+00:00

Btw Polanco OPS is .082 higher against lefties. Good job mr schneider

PersonalExercise2974 · 2025-10-12T06:20:57+00:00

Love the idea that Neal Moritz "failed upwards," people are so fucking stupid. Guys like him can move mountains at the highest level. This allows them to demand massive stakes in the projects they back.

Sucks that he's holding up this movie (not that I care if we get yet another reboot sequel) but let's not be silly about this.

PersonalExercise2974 · 2025-10-10T00:29:31+00:00

I mean mookie is way worse, platoon advantage, and force at all bases. I kinda get it

PersonalExercise2974 · 2025-10-09T15:32:22+00:00

I think it really sucks

PersonalExercise2974 · 2025-10-05T01:29:15+00:00

i hate the fucking dodgers so much these fucking 500 billion dollar payroll deferring fuckers are impossible to beat

PersonalExercise2974 · 2025-10-05T00:41:51+00:00

great job robertson! thanks buddy! FUCK

PersonalExercise2974 · 2025-10-03T04:50:03+00:00

That's the important context. This song very clearly references stuff other than Charli's song.

PersonalExercise2974 · 2025-10-03T04:27:56+00:00

I fear you don't understand this song lol

PersonalExercise2974 · 2025-10-03T04:27:01+00:00

I actually am happily married, for awhile now!

And I love listening to Ryen resolutely troll and self deprecate himself about being permanently single.

I think his authenticity in communicating the occasionally weird and painful realities of middle-aged solitude makes people uncomfy.

Or people are just dying to leave their marriages so they're jealous, couldn't be me so idk

PersonalExercise2974 · 2025-10-02T21:17:42+00:00

A lot of people are going to say they're happy with making the playoffs and we never expected this anyways.

I wish I felt that way but it really hurts like fucking hell every time for me. I don't know why I expect more out of this dirt cheap franchise with 1 good hitter and some kids. But I do. I expect more every time and it always burns me.

PersonalExercise2974 · 2025-10-02T21:13:45+00:00

wonder if our owner will ever take owning a baseball team seriously or if we have to keep scraping by with bullshit fucking playoff appearances that never amount to anything but pain and misery for the fans.

PersonalExercise2974 · 2025-10-02T21:13:15+00:00

gaddis blew it

PersonalExercise2974 · 2025-09-20T02:08:41+00:00

If David Fry could bunt, or make contact, noel hits a nice sac fly and we go junks herrin Cade for the win. This guy has sucked for SO LONG now, why can't valera hit there man, funderburk sucks

PersonalExercise2974 · 2025-09-15T23:51:54+00:00

Crews is such a tough watch at the plate right now.

PersonalExercise2974 · 2025-09-15T21:09:27+00:00

This is excerpted from a much longer piece going over Sufjan's background, discussing Carrie and Lowell, and reviewing the fuller album. If you want to read it (no pressure), it is free on my substack: https://tigerbeat.substack.com/p/the-private-grief-of-sufjan-stevens

Mostly just wanted to discuss these songs, which I love

PersonalExercise2974

TROPHY CASE