When Does "Ringo" (1964) Take Place?
"Ringo" is a western historical fiction narrative-song written by Don Robertson with Hal Blair that released April 11th, 1964. So when is "Ringo" set?
It takes place in the years:
We know this because the first verse includes the phrase "his six-gun", referring to a revolver handgun (as it often has six chambers for six bullets). This type of weapon was first introduced around 1530 AD though there's an unknown seemingly multi-year jump later in the narrative. In the fifth verse the narrator tells us he is "looking down the bore / Of the deadly .44 of Ringo" and .44 caliber bullets were first used in the Colt Walker handgun, first available for sale in 1847 AD. So it must be during or after 1847 AD at the end of the song.
~1870 AD - 1882 AD
We know this because the first verse includes the phrase "his six-gun", referring to a revolver handgun (as it often has six chambers for six bullets). This type of weapon was first introduced around 1530 AD though there's an unknown seemingly multi-year jump later in the narrative. In the fifth verse the narrator tells us he is "looking down the bore / Of the deadly .44 of Ringo" and .44 caliber bullets were first used in the Colt Walker handgun, first available for sale in 1847 AD. So it must be during or after 1847 AD at the end of the song.
More specifically, it includes the eponymous character Ringo during adulthood so it must begin between around 1870 AD when he reached 20-years-of age and July 13th, 1882 AD, when the real-world criminal Johnny Ringo (1850-1882) died.
