New Mexico; Kansas City; Grainger County -- they're pretty spaced out across the USA, and Gantry . . . I couldn't find anywhere named that, not now, not in 1883, when BG rode in, nor in 1923 when SMc was still there.

Do you think Norman just chose all four of them because they scanned and fit the mood of the song? Or is there any narrative value involved?

And actually, does anyone know whether there IS anywhere called Gantry?

As for Grainger County (TN, pop. 22,650) does it have colder clay than other counties, do you think?

Smashing song, by the way -- I came across it by Caleb and Reeb. (Smashing performers, as a duo, or part of the Foghorn Stringband.)