The song "Out in New Mexico" by Johnny Horton tells the story of a young man who is offered a job by an old cow-puncher in the town of Griffin in 1883. The cow-puncher proposes that the young man spend a pleasant summer in New Mexico, offering good wages and transportation. The young man agrees to go on this adventure, and they leave Griffin in May. At first, everything seems promising and enjoyable. They journey through the countryside with saddles on their horses, until they reach Old Boggy in New Mexico. However, their pleasant experiences soon come to an end as they face various challenges. The first hailstorm scares the cattle, causing them to run off. The cowboys have to navigate through thorny vegetation, enduring hardships while the Indians observe them from a distance. Once the cattle drive is over, the man who hired the young man refuses to pay him. Feeling deceived and frustrated, the protagonist advises the listeners to stay away from New Mexico and warns them to tell others not to go there. Overall, the song portrays the tough and unpredictable nature of life as a cow-puncher in New Mexico in the 19th century. It emphasizes the challenges faced by cowboys and suggests that the region may not be as pleasant or rewarding as it initially appears.
