“Big Iron” –Marty Robbins

marty-robbinsThis is a ballad that tells the story about an Arizona Ranger and his duel with the outlaw Texas Red. “Big Iron” was originally released on the album Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs in 1959. The story describes an outlaw who was notorious for gun-fighting. He had already killed 20 men and the town believes the ranger from Arizona (who has come to stop Texas Red) will be number 21. However, this ranger is accompanied by a  ”big iron on his hip” otherwise known as a custom-made .45 colt. The song was inspired by an actual custom .45 colt that was displayed in a North Hollywood gun shop that Robbins had seen; later writing the song in the late 1950’s. “Big Iron” reached #5 on the Billboard Country charts and #26 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1960.