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.
Change That Dial
Marty Robbins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It reminds me of somethin' I've done
Somethin' so wrong
Once I had a real true love
And she was good to me
I cheated and she found out
Then she left me
It seemed we loved it so
Now I can't stand to hear it
Because it hurts me so
Change the dial, turn off that song
It reminds me of somethin' I've done
Somethin' so wrong
We sang that song so many times
When she was here with me
When both of us were just as one
Before she set me free
It tells about a boy and girl
Both so much in love
What made me step across the line
What was I thinkin' of
Change the dial, turn off that song
It reminds me of somethin' I've done
Somethin' so wrong
In "Change That Dial," Marty Robbins sings about the immense guilt and regret that comes with infidelity. The singer urges the listener to turn off a certain song since it reminds him of something he did wrong – cheating on his previous lover. He sings about how he had a "real true love" who loved him in return, but he betrayed her trust and she left him. He used to love the song they sing together, but now every time he hears it, he remembers the pain of his own infidelity and the loss of his true love.
The song speaks to the universal experience of regret and the pain that comes with reflecting on past mistakes. The singer's plea for the listener to "change the dial" highlights the idea of escapism – the desire to avoid facing reality and painful memories. However, as the lyrics suggest, the memories and guilt will always linger until they are faced and addressed.
Overall, "Change That Dial" is a poignant song that delves deep into themes of regret, guilt, and infidelity. Through its simple melody and powerful lyrics, the song reminds us of the importance of taking responsibility for our actions and facing the consequences of our decisions, no matter how much they hurt.
Line by Line Meaning
Change the dial, turn off that song
I need to change the radio station and stop listening to this song
It reminds me of somethin' I've done
This song brings back memories of a mistake I made
Somethin' so wrong
The mistake I made was a really bad one
Once I had a real true love
I used to be in a wonderful relationship
And she was good to me
My partner was always kind and caring towards me
I cheated and she found out
I was unfaithful and she discovered the truth
Then she left me
As a result of my actions, my partner ended the relationship
We used to sing that same old song
We both enjoyed listening to and singing this song together
It seemed we loved it so
This song held a special place in our hearts
Now I can't stand to hear it
Due to the painful memories associated with this song, I can't bear to listen to it anymore
Because it hurts me so
Listening to this song causes me emotional pain
We sang that song so many times
This song was a regular part of our relationship and we enjoyed singing it together
When she was here with me
This song holds memories of the time when my partner and I were still together
When both of us were just as one
We were deeply in love and felt like we were one entity
Before she set me free
Before my partner ended the relationship and set me free
It tells about a boy and girl
The song is about a romantic relationship between a young man and woman
Both so much in love
The couple in the song was deeply in love with each other
What made me step across the line
I don't know why I was unfaithful and betrayed my partner
What was I thinkin' of
I deeply regret my actions and wish I could take them back
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: MARTY ROBBINS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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!