After the New Mexico House of Representatives heard a tape of "Song for New Mexico" by James Hobbs, they voted unanimously to make it the state's official song. But one lawmaker, who did not vote on the bill, objected that only a man's voice is heard on the song and the lyrics refer to a "pretty, dark-eyed señorita" working beside a farmer in the field.

Prior to the vote, a staffer for the House Democratic leadership wrote a scathing analysis of the song that labeled it "sexist, racist and religiously unacceptable." The Legislative Council suggested numerous changes to the lyrics, including replacing "red man" with "Native American," and "cowboys" with "cow people." A House committee did not accept any of the proposed changes.

After the bill passed the State Senate, which had also recently debated a bill urging a Governor's pardon for Billy the Kid, a senator rose to suggest adoption of an official New Mexico State Senate Song, then began singing Freddy Fender's classic, "Wasted Days and Wasted Nights."

[Ed.: Oregon elementary school children have similarly been enlisted in an effort to rewrite that state's anthem, which refers to "empire-building" and the defeat of Native Americans by "free men."]

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