Vaqueros Con Mucho Indios Influence Plus Billy the Kid Wore His Gun All Wrong!

 May 23, 2025

   According to a story I read somewhere, many moons ago Country Rocker Joe Ely went out of his way to go to Fort Sumner, New Mexico to take in the Billy the Kid grave museum and apparently he wasn't all that thrilled with the place. This led to him writing the following song:

Joe Ely's Take On Billy the Kid

   What I especially love about this tune is the nitpicking by the singer, "I didn't like the way he tied his shoes and he wore his gun all wrong" which is a total indictment of me and all my friends who obsess on these very things!

   And, speaking of obsessing on things.

   When I finally get around to publishing my stories on Mexican vaqueros, the Sonoran Indios are going to get mucho credit. Without them, there would be no Mexican food as we know it, and without them there would not be any sugarloaf sombreros (Bigger, broader, I want it mucho grande!). But what is ironic to me is they never totally gravitated to the boot. When you look at old vaquero photos closely you will be surprised to see that under their leggings (botas?) they are often wearing sandals! Hell, here's an Indio who can't even be bothered with pants!

Indios Sans Botas!

(y nada pantaloons!)

 

   And, is that a tattoo on the inside of his right leg?

   Okay, here is another Sonoran Bad Boy.

   And, is he wearing sandals underneath those botas?

Sandals? Or, what? Lizard Skin Shoes?

      Okay, what does all of this mean?

Daily Whip Out: "Old Vaquero In Dust"

"I can see by your outfit you are mucho Indio."

—Old Vaquero Saying