Disclaimer: My hypothesis is strictly based on Marty Robbins, and I mightn't have heard all of his songs. Please bring attention to any other reference he makes to notches.

Recently I've been listening to Marty Robbins and I've noticed many references of or around "21" notches. Usually the 'notches' part is inferred, but the only mention revolves around the number 21. For example, the gunslinger gets cut short of 21: Big Iron - Texas Red says "21 will be the Ranger with a Big Iron on his hip", but the Ranger beats his draw; Running Gun - The Running Gun says "20 notches on my six-gun mark the lessons I have learned", but the Running Gun is killed by a Bounty Hunter: "my own gun stood in leather as his bullet tore its path". Another example of 21 is the Gunslinger being beaten before surpassing 21; Billy the Kid - Billy the Kid is said to have "... a notch on his pistol for 21 men", then to his companions he says "21 men I have put bullets through, Sherriff Pat Garret must make 22", but then the tale goes on to say Billy the Kid was "Shot down by Pat Garret who once was his friend".

Is the correlation of 21 to do with maturity, or is it just a random number? It seems too specific to be random, so there must be some sort of implied meaning. A thought was that it's an impressive number of wins, but realisticly, outdrawing 5 gunfighters is impressive, and if there was any attempt to be dramatic the Gunslinger could have killed 40 men.

Also I've noticed several mentions of a horse name Dan and I'd like to piece that story together (Cool Water - Me and Dan, Cottonwood Tree - Old Dan)

TL:DR What is the significance of 21 notches, and what is the full story of the Wanderer and his horse Dan in Marty Robbins Gunslinger Ballads?

Looking for recommendations for broody western music. A great example is the Handsome Family's theme for True Detective season 1. King Dude's "Jesus in the Courtyard" is also a good example.

Particularly interested in instrumental stuff, for example, along the lines of Spindrift's "Speak to the Wind" or Henry Mancini's "Experiment in Terror".

Interested in basically anything at the nexus of spaghetti western music, surf rock, and brooding murder ballads.

(Other stuff that kinda hits this vibe for me: Nick Cave, Ritual Howls, Dirty Beaches album Badlands)

Any good recs?

For Fans of - Jerry Jeff Walker, Willie Nelson, My Morning Jacket, Silver Jews, Purple Mountains & Waylon Jennings

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Is it weird that I only recognize like 2 of them?