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.
Adios Amigo
Marty Robbins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The road we have travelled has come to an end.
When two love the same love, one love has to lose,
And it's you who she longs for, it's you she will choose.
Adios compadre, what must be must be,
Remember to name one muchacho for me.
I ride to the Rio, where my life I must spend,
--- Instrumental ---
Adios compadre, let us she'd no tears,
May all your maanas bring joy through the years.
Away from these memories, my life I must spend,
Adios amigo, adios my friend...
Marty Robbins's Adios Amigo is a song that reflects the bittersweet realization that all good things must come to an end. The song tells the story of two friends who have journeyed on a road that has come to its end. The reason for the end of their journey is that they both fell in love with the same woman, and she chose the other friend. The song expresses the feeling of loss and acceptance that comes after a difficult decision has been made.
The first line of the song, "Adios amigo, adios my friend," sets the tone of the song. It is a melancholic goodbye to a friend who is now a stranger. The next line, "The road we have travelled has come to an end," confirms that the journey they had together has come to an end, and it is time to go their separate ways. The third line, "When two love the same love, one love has to lose," explains the reason for the end of their friendship. They both fell in love with the same woman, and one of them had to lose her.
The last two lines of the song express the finality of their separation. The friend who lost the woman wishes the other well, and the one who won the woman rides off to the Rio to start his new life. The instrumental in the middle of the song is a musical tribute to the friendship they had before it fell apart.
Overall, Marty Robbins's Adios Amigo is a melancholy but touching song that captures the pain of separation and the beauty of friendship.
Line by Line Meaning
Adios amigo, adios my friend,
Goodbye my friend, our journey has come to a close.
The road we have travelled has come to an end.
Our journey together has ended.
When two love the same love, one love has to lose,
When two people love the same person, one person has to be rejected.
And it's you who she longs for, it's you she will choose.
She desires you and will choose you.
Adios compadre, what must be must be,
Farewell my friend, whatever happens is fate.
Remember to name one muchacho for me.
Please name one boy after me.
I ride to the Rio, where my life I must spend,
I am leaving for the river, where I will live my life.
Adios amigo, adios my friend.
Goodbye my friend, our journey has come to a close.
--- Instrumental ---
The sound of music without any lyrics.
Adios compadre, let us she'd no tears,
Farewell my friend, let us not cry.
May all your maanas bring joy through the years.
May all of your tomorrows bring happiness to you.
Away from these memories, my life I must spend,
I must live my life without these memories.
Adios amigo, adios my friend...
Goodbye my friend, our journey has come to a close.
Contributed by Avery D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
A
on Johnny Fedavo
This is a fantastic, emotional song, thanks to whoever added the meaning behind the lyrics to this song. Makes it easy for some to understand a bit better!