According to Townes Van Zandt, when he wrote the song, it was not about Pancho Villa...as a matter of fact, it was completely fictional..so I doubt it was written about anyone's grandfather.
I believe it is about a partnership of two outlaws. In the end, Lefty sold out Pancho to save himself. Pancho is dead, and Lefty has to live with the fact that he sold out his friend. The shame he has felt has stuck with him, dragging him down financially and emotionally. While Pancho "needs your prayers" for the things he did to others, Lefty needs prayers (forgiveness) for what he did to his partner in crime.
According to Townes Van Zandt, when he wrote the song, it was not about Pancho Villa...as a matter of fact, it was completely fictional..so I doubt it was written about anyone's grandfather.
I believe it is about a partnership of two outlaws. In the end, Lefty sold out Pancho to save himself. Pancho is dead, and Lefty has to live with the fact that he sold out his friend. The shame he has felt has stuck with him, dragging him down financially and emotionally. While Pancho "needs your prayers" for the things he did to others, Lefty needs prayers (forgiveness) for what he did to his partner in crime.