The Texas House voted to make Western swing the state’s official music. It was unanimous — and the ceremonial resolution has already passed the Senate.

As the AP report (below) indicates, Rep. Doug Miller sang “I saw miles and miles of Texas” by Bob Wills — as opposed to say, “I’m a Ding Dong Daddy from Dumas.” Yes, that song was originally written by Phil Baxter, but on the Wills/Playboys cover you can hear him exclaim, “We’re all swinging now!”

Funny. No one proposed “psychedelic rock” as Texas’ official music — in honor of Roky Erikson and the 13th Floor Elevators, the first group (in 1965) to advertise themselves as psychedelic rock, the first to use the term on an album jacket.

What do you mean, what about the state’s budget problems?

Associated Press:

Texas lawmakers have declared western swing the state’s official music with a mini-hoedown on the House floor.

Rep. Doug Miller donned a cowboy hat and crooned, “I saw miles and miles of Texas,” while Reps. Sid Miller and Charles “Doc”Anderson, stomped their feet to the beat.

The ceremonial resolution passed unanimously Monday and had already passed the Senate. It means lawmakers gave the nod to such western swing pioneers as Bob Willis over a parade of other homegrown hit-makers, including everyone from Hank Williams to the Dixie Chicks.

A sub-genre of country that originated in the 1920s and 30s, western swing is an up-tempo dance sound that mixes pop and jazz with a string section, and can feature elements of fiddle and
ragtime.