O Fair New Mexico

"O Fair New Mexico", the state song of the U.S. state of New Mexico was officially selected in 1917. It was adopted as the state song by an act of the New Mexico legislature, approved on March 14, 1917, as signed by Governor Washington E. Lindsey.^[1] The author, Elizabeth Garrett, was the daughter of former Lincoln County Sheriff Pat Garrett, the man who killed Billy the Kid.^[1] The musical genre of "O Fair New Mexico" is classified as a tango.^[2][3][4]

Lyrics

The following are the lyrics for "O Fair New Mexico":^[1]

Under a sky of azure, where balmy breezes blow,

Kissed by the golden sunshine, is Nuevo México.

Home of the Montezuma, with fiery hearts aglow,

State of the deeds historic, is Nuevo México.

Chorus

O, fair New Mexico, we love, we love you so

Our hearts with pride o'erflow, no matter where we go,

O, fair New Mexico, we love, we love you so,

The grandest state to know, New Mexico.

Second Verse

Rugged and high sierras, with deep canyons below;

Dotted with fertile valleys, is Nuevo México.

Fields full of sweet alfalfa, richest perfumes bestow,

State of apple blossoms, is Nuevo México.

Chorus

Third Verse

Days that are full of heart-dreams, nights when the moon hangs low;

Beaming its benediction, o'er Nuevo México.

Land with its bright manana, coming through weal and woe;

State of our esperanza, is Nuevo México.

Chorus

See also

• "Así Es Nuevo Méjico", the Spanish state song

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} "The New Mexico State Song", NSTATE, LLC, December 2004, web: Netstate-song-nm.
2. ^ "New Mexico Secretary of State, State Songs". New Mexico Secretary of State. http://www.sos.state.nm.us/StateSongs.html. 
3. ^ "Listen to 'O Fair New Mexico'". New Mexico Secretary of State. Roberto Mondragon. http://www.sos.state.nm.us/music/OFairNewMexico.mp3. 
4. ^ "Download sheet music for 'O Fair New Mexico'". New Mexico Secretary of State. http://www.sos.state.nm.us/pdf/O-FairNM.pdf.