Born in Glendale, Arizona, Robbins taught himself guitar while serving in the United States Navy during World War II, and subsequently drew fame performing in clubs in and around his hometown. In 1956, he released his first No. 1 country song, "Singing the Blues" and one year later, released two more No. 1 hits, "A White Sport Coat" and "The Story of My Life". In 1959, Robbins released his signature song, "El Paso", for which he won the Grammy Award for Best Country & Western Recording. Later releases that drew critical acclaim include "Don't Worry", "Big Iron" and "Honkytonk Man", the last for which the 1982 Clint Eastwood film is named, and in which Robbins made his final appearance before death.
Over the course of his career, Robbins recorded more than 500 songs and 60 albums, and won two Grammy Awards, was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, and was named the 1960s Artist of the Decade by the Academy of Country Music. Robbins was a commercial success in both the country and pop genres, and his songs were covered by many other famous artists, including Johnny Cash, the Grateful Dead and Elvis Presley. His music continues to have an influence in pop culture today, having recently appeared in several contemporary pop culture features, including the video game Fallout: New Vegas, and the series finale of AMC's Breaking Bad.
Robbins was born in Glendale, a suburb of Phoenix in Maricopa County, Arizona. His mother was mostly of Paiute Indian heritage. Robbins grew up in a difficult family situation. His father took odd jobs to support the family of 10 children; however, his hard drinking led to divorce in 1937. Among his warmer memories of his childhood, Robbins recalled having listened to stories of the American West told by his maternal grandfather, Texas Bob Heckle, who was a local medicine man. At 17, Robbins left his troubled home to serve in the United States Navy as an LCT coxswain during World War II. He was stationed in the Solomon Islands in the Pacific Ocean. To pass the time during the war, he learned to play the guitar, started writing songs, and came to love Hawaiian music.
Robbins' discography consists of 52 studio albums, 13 compilation albums, and 100 singles. In his career, Robbins charted 17 Number One singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, as well as 82 Top 40 singles.
Robbins' highest charting album is 1959's Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs. It charted to #6 on the all-genre Billboard 200, and was also certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. The album's first single, "El Paso", became a hit on both the country and pop charts, charting to Number One on the Hot Country Songs as well as the Billboard Hot 100. While that would be his only pop Number One, in 1957, "A White Sport Coat" charted to #2, and in 1961, "Don't Worry" charted to #3.
His final Top 10 single was "Honkytonk Man" from the 1982 eponymous film in which Robbins had a role. He died shortly before its release. Since his death, four posthumous studio albums have been released, but they made no impact on the charts.
Robbins married Marizona "Mari" Baldwin on September 27, 1948. They had two children, Ronny and Janet, and were married 34 years until his death.
Riders in the Sky
Marty Robbins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ghost riders in the sky
An old cowpoke went ridin' out one dark and windy day (yippie-I-ay)
Upon a ridge he rested as he went along his way
When all at once a mighty bunch of red eyed cows he saw
Plowin' through the ragged sky, and up a cloudy draw
Ghost riders in the sky
Their brands were still on fire and their hoofs were made of steel (yippie-I-ay)
Their horns were black and shiny and their hot breath he could feel
A bolt of fear went through him as they thundered through the sky
He saw the riders commin' hard and he heard their mournful cry
Yippie-I-ay, yippie-I-o
Ghost riders in the sky
Their faces gaunt, their eyes were blurred
Their shirts all soaked with sweat (yippie-I-ay)
They're ridin' hard to catch that herd, but they aint caught 'em yet'
'Cause you've gotta ride forever on that range up in the sky
On horses snorting fire, as they ride on, hear their cry
Yippie-I-ay, yippie-I-o
Ghost riders in the sky
As the riders went on by him, he heard one call his name (yippie-I-ay)
If you wanna save your soul from ever ridin' on our range
Then cowboy change your way today, or with us you will ride
Tryin' to catch the devil's herd, across these endless skies
Yippie-I-ay, yippie-I-o
Ghost riders in the sky
Ghost riders in the sky
The song Riders In The Sky, written by Stan Jones and made popular by Marty Robbins, tells the story of a lone cowboy who witnesses a group of ghost riders chasing after a herd of cattle through the dark and windy sky. The cowboy feels a bolt of fear as he witnesses the riders, whose faces are gaunt and eyes are blurred. The riders call to him, warning him that he will be forced to ride with them if he doesn't change his ways, and that the herd they are chasing belongs to the devil himself.
The song is full of imagery and symbolism, painting a picture of the struggles between good and evil, and the consequences of our actions. The ghost riders and their pursuit of the devil's herd can be seen as a metaphor for the temptations and vices we face in life. The cowboy's fear and realization that he must change his ways is a reminder that we must each choose whether to live a life of virtue or to be overtaken by temptation.
Overall, the lyrics of Riders In The Sky are a cautionary tale about the dangers of succumbing to temptation and the importance of leading a righteous life.
Line by Line Meaning
Yippie-I-ay, yippie-I-o
Expressing excitement and anticipation
Ghost riders in the sky
Phantom cowboys chasing a herd of cattle in the sky
An old cowpoke went ridin' out one dark and windy day (yippie-I-ay)
An aging cowboy goes out for a ride on a moody day
Upon a ridge he rested as he went along his way
The cowboy stops on a hill to take a break from his journey
When all at once a mighty bunch of red eyed cows he saw
The cowboy sees a large group of cattle with red eyes
Plowin' through the ragged sky, and up a cloudy draw
The cattle are moving through the clouds in the sky
Their brands were still on fire and their hoofs were made of steel (yippie-I-ay)
The cattle had a burning brand and strong, steel hooves
Their horns were black and shiny and their hot breath he could feel
The cattle had black and glossy horns and hot breath
A bolt of fear went through him as they thundered through the sky
The cowboy was terrified as the cattle rushed through the sky
He saw the riders commin' hard and he heard their mournful cry
He saw the ghost cowboys riding fast and heard their sad noise
Their faces gaunt, their eyes were blurred
The ghost cowboys looked thin and had blurry eyes
Their shirts all soaked with sweat (yippie-I-ay)
The ghost cowboys were covered in sweat
They're ridin' hard to catch that herd, but they aint caught 'em yet'
The ghost cowboys are trying to grab the herd but have not succeeded
'Cause you've gotta ride forever on that range up in the sky
The ghost cowboys must ride forever on the sky range
On horses snorting fire, as they ride on, hear their cry
The ghost cowboys ride fiery horses, and their cries can be heard
As the riders went on by him, he heard one call his name (yippie-I-ay)
As the cowboys rode past, one called him by name
If you wanna save your soul from ever ridin' on our range
If he wants to be saved from riding with them in the sky
Then cowboy change your way today, or with us you will ride
The cowboy must change his ways to avoid joining them in the sky
Tryin' to catch the devil's herd, across these endless skies
The ghost cowboys are trying to capture Satan's cattle across the boundless sky
Ghost riders in the sky
Phantom cowboys chasing a herd of cattle in the sky
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: Stanley Jones
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Debora Skerencak
No one could sing a song like Marty. He was fantastic!!!! RIP Marty. ❤️🐝
Ron Dundon
Marty was indeed outstanding and every performance he gave was brilliant and there have been some great versions of this song, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash etc. For me personally though, there was only one singer of this paticular song and that was "THE" Frankie Lane.
Pádraig Glück
Marty Robbins was so good. He didn’t let a weak ticker slow him down. He lived life to the fullest until his heart gave out. I miss him.
sad3 sadow
You do know that he raced at Nashville Speedway for a long time. Had them put him on last at the grand ol' Opry. Late model modified, I think.
Sergeant Masson
Marty Robbins also had a great sense of humor and greatly loved his wife and their two children, Robbie and Janet.
TheFalconerNZ
When you live life at full throttle the tank doesn't last long but the ride is wild, often wish l had lived for today instead of planning for tomorrow now that l have few tomorrows left. Marty may have left us early but he will remain with us for a long time.
Ted Silvers Yeager
Do Ya?
JadeZee
@TheFalconerNZ interesting comment......i often wonder at the people who say he/she died so young.....when they packed more living into their life than someone twice as old...the only thing i have ever envied in my life were the people who lived life to the fullest...few ever have
James Weekley
I've heard several versions of this song. I used to think Johnny Cash did it best. Now I know better. Nobody does a western song better than Marty Robbins.
Fay Swan
Currently comparing it with Geoff Castellucci