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.
A White Sport Coat & A Pink Carnation
Marty Robbins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm all dressed up for the dance
A white sport coat and a pink carnation
I'm all alone in romance
Once you told me long ago
To the prom with me you'd go
Now you've changed your mind, it seems
A white (a white)
Sport coat (sport coat)
And a pink carnation
And in a blue, blue mood
A white
Sport coat
And a pink carnation
I'm all dressed up for the dance
A white
Sport coat
And a pink carnation
I'm all alone in romance
Once you told me long ago
To the prom with me you'd go
Now you've changed your mind it seems
Someone else will hold my dreams
A white (a white)
Sport coat (sport coat)
And a pink carnation
And in a blue, blue mood
The song "A White Sport Coat and a Pink Carnation" tells the story of a young man who is all dressed up for the dance in a white sports coat and a pink carnation, but without a date. He is in a blue mood because the girl that he had asked to go with him to the prom has changed her mind and is going with someone else. The white sports coat and pink carnation symbolize his attempt to appear sophisticated and romantically desirable, but ultimately he is left feeling rejected and alone.
The song captures the emotion of teenage disappointment and heartbreak, and the feeling of being rejected at a time when social status and acceptance was especially important. It is a nostalgic look back at the innocence and naivete of youth, and the ups and downs of high school romance.
Line by Line Meaning
A white sports coat and a pink carnation
I am dressed in a white sports coat with a pink carnation pinned on it
I'm all dressed up for the dance
I am ready to attend the dance
A white sports coat and a pink carnation
I am dressed in a white sports coat with a pink carnation pinned on it
I'm all alone in romance
I am not with anyone to share my romantic feelings
Once you told me long ago
You had promised me before
To the prom with me you'd go
To accompany me to the prom
Now you've changed your mind, it seems
It looks like you have had a change of heart
Someone else will hold my dreams
You have chosen someone else to fulfill your dreams
A white sports coat and a pink carnation
I am dressed in a white sports coat with a pink carnation pinned on it
I'm in a blue, blue mood
I am feeling very sad and dejected
I'm all dressed up for the dance
Despite my feelings, I am still ready to go to the dance
I'm all alone in romance
Unfortunately, I am still without a romantic partner
Once you told me long ago
You had made me a promise in the past
To the prom with me you'd go
You had agreed to attend the prom with me
Now you've changed your mind it seems
It appears that you have gone back on your word
Someone else will hold my dreams
I have to accept that someone else will make my dreams come true instead of you
A white sports coat and a pink carnation
I am still wearing a white sports coat with a pink carnation pinned on it
I'm in a blue, blue mood
I am still very sad
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Marty Robbins
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@lookslikeanangel
This is my 78 year old Dads favorite song. He is having surgery in 4 days, to (hopefully) remove the cancer growing in his body.
@fredbiden868
sorry to say but not good at all...cancer is never cured...
@jwchoi9823
I hope your dad had a successful surgery and fully recovered and is doing well
@melodyhuskey4669
My mother's fav song..
@drlock978
@@jwchoi9823Same here.
@lunch96box
I send good wishes 🙏
@teetarquin7012
My brother dressed up in that white sport coat and pink carnation on stage at his high school in 1959 and played guitar and sang this song. I was six years old and screamed out his name, I was so proud. We were very poor, but my brother looked like a million bucks.
@markclifford1857
Hello 👋 Tarquin. How are you doing? Hope you are fine. I’m Mark Clifford and am from Denver Colorado. Where are you from? You seem like a real country girl
@The50Fordman
I'll be 75 next month and can still remember the record hops where they played this song. Those were great times and will never be forgotten.
@rhondaboncutter5812
I am 67, remember this as a kid! My parents always had music in my life!