Inspired by Jeep’s “Reunited States of America” Super Bowl ad, this is my peek into America through a handful of songs. Each track is dedicated to one of the states. Here’s Part 4.

I’m currently rewatching Breaking Bad with my wife and renewing my fascination with the beautiful southwest. Which leads me to the next entry for my state theme on Mental Jukebox. In between the artwork of Georgia O’Keeffe and the gripping stories of Vince Gilligan came a song that told a wild west folk tale of the state of New Mexico. With his classic baritone delivery and guitar picking tendencies, it was, in many ways, a prototypical Johnny Cash song even though he didn’t write it.

“Go back to your friends and loved ones, tell others not to go to the God forsaken country they call New Mexico.”