Martin David Robinson (September 26, 1925 – December 8, 1982), known profes… Read Full Bio ↴Martin David Robinson (September 26, 1925 – December 8, 1982), known professionally as Marty Robbins, was an American singer, songwriter, actor, multi-instrumentalist, and NASCAR racing driver. Robbins was one of the most popular and successful country and western singers for most of his nearly four-decade career, which spanned from the late 1940s to the early 1980s.

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.

Among My Souvenirs
Marty Robbins Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

There's nothing left for me
Of days that used to be
I live in memory, among my souvenirs

Some letters tied in blue
A photograph or two
I find a rose for you
Among my souvenirs

A few more tokens rest
Down in my treasure chest
And though they do their best
To give me consolation

I count them all apart
And as the teardrops start
I find a broken heart
Among my souvenirs

I live in memories
Among my souvenirs

Overall Meaning

The song "Among My Souvenirs" by Marty Robbins is a nostalgic piece that speaks about finding comfort in memories from the past. The opening lines reveal that the singer has lost everything that they once had, and all that remains are memories that they now live in. The song tells about how these memories are often tied to specific objects like letters or photographs. The use of the phrase "among my souvenirs" creates an image of the singer surrounded by keepsakes that hold sentimental value. It's almost as though these objects have become the singer's companions in their current state of loss, serving as a connection to a happier time. The final lines reveal that, although the singer may be physically alone, they are able to find solace in their memories.

The verse that reads "And though they do their best, to give me consolation, I count them all apart, and as the teardrops start, I find a broken heart, among my souvenirs", represents the pain of loss and the moments of sadness that come with recollection. Despite the comforting presence of these keepsakes, the singer ultimately finds that they can't escape from the hurt of the present. The phrase "and as the teardrops start" paints a poignant image of the singer's emotional state.

Line by Line Meaning

There's nothing left for me
The singer has lost everything meaningful in his present life

Of days that used to be
He is nostalgic about the good old days, when everything was simpler and happier

I live in memory, among my souvenirs
Nowadays, all he has left are his memories and keepsakes, which he cherishes deeply

Some letters tied in blue
He has kept some blue-tinted letters, which may hold sentimental value

A photograph or two
He treasures some old photos, which capture a moment in time long gone

I find a rose for you Among my souvenirs
He discovers a rose among his memorabilia, which he may have saved as a romantic gesture

A few more tokens rest
In addition to letters, photos and roses, he has other trinkets that evoke memories

Down in my treasure chest
He keeps all his keepsakes in a chest, which he guards like a treasure trove

And though they do their best To give me consolation
His souvenirs provide some comfort and solace, but cannot replace what he has lost

I count them all apart
He carefully inspects each item and reminisces about its significance

And as the teardrops start
As he dwells on the past, he gets overwhelmed with emotion and starts crying

I find a broken heart Among my souvenirs
Amidst all his memorabilia, he discovers his own broken heart: the ultimate symbol of his pain and longing

I live in memories Among my souvenirs
In the end, he realizes that his past is where he resides- in his memories and the tangible keepsakes that preserve them

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Edgar Leslie, Lawrence Wright

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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