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.
Cigarettes And Coffee Blues
Marty Robbins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I know that I can't sleep
And I won't go to bed at all
I'll just lay there and weep
Instead, I'll make our favorite spot
That's what I think I'll do
I got those smokin' cigarettes
And drinkin' coffee blues
[CHORUS:]
Smokin' cigarettes
And drinkin' coffee all night long
Wondrin' how a love so right
Could suddenly go wrong
I bet there's a lot of people
Know the misery I go through
I've got those smokin' cigarettes
And drinkin' coffee blues
Sittin' at a table
Where I carved my baby's name
Won'drin' how our love went wrong
Wonderin' who's to blame
Listenin' while the juke box
Plays a song that makes me blue
Another cup of coffee
Then a cigarette or two
In "Cigarettes And Coffee Blues," Marty Robbins sings about the pain of heartbreak and the mundane activities he takes up to deal with the insomnia that comes with it. He embarks on a walk because he knows that he cannot sleep and even if he goes to bed, he'll only cry. So, he decides to go to his and his lost lover's favorite spot, but he can only manage to smoke cigarettes and drink coffee instead of enjoying the place, as their memories disturb him. He laments the end of the love that seemed perfect suddenly and wonders how it all went wrong, and doubts that he's the only one going through this misery.
The chorus of the song notes that he is now frequently smoking cigarettes and drinking coffee, trying to understand how a love that was once so perfect could have abruptly turned sour. He surmises that there must be many others who have experienced the same misery he is feeling. The song's last verse finds the singer sitting in what was once their exclusive love spot contemplating, searching for answers on what went wrong while drowning his sorrows in coffee, cigarettes, and blue music.
Line by Line Meaning
I guess I'll take a walk tonight
I plan to go for a walk tonight as I cannot sleep.
I know that I can't sleep
I am aware that I won't be able to sleep tonight.
And I won't go to bed at all
Instead of sleeping, I'll be staying up all night.
I'll just lay there and weep
I'll just lie down and cry for the love that is lost.
Instead, I'll make our favorite spot
I'll go to our favorite place instead of staying at home.
That's what I think I'll do
I have decided to go to our favorite place.
I got those smokin' cigarettes
I have cigarettes to smoke.
And drinkin' coffee blues
I am feeling miserable and thus drinking coffee.
[CHORUS:]
The upcoming lyrics have a chorus about smoking and drinking coffee.
Smokin' cigarettes
I am smoking cigarettes all night long.
And drinkin' coffee all night long
I am drinking coffee throughout the night.
Wondrin' how a love so right
I am wondering how a once perfect relationship could go wrong.
Could suddenly go wrong
I am perturbed by the fact that our relationship ended abruptly.
I bet there's a lot of people
I am sure that many people have felt the same way.
Know the misery I go through
I am convinced that others feel the same type of misery.
I've got those smokin' cigarettes
I am still smoking cigarettes throughout the night.
And drinkin' coffee blues
I am still feeling miserable and drinking coffee.
Sittin' at a table
I am sitting at a table all alone.
Where I carved my baby's name
I am sitting at a table where I once carved my lover's name.
Won'drin' how our love went wrong
I am pondering over how our relationship crumbled.
Wonderin' who's to blame
I am thinking of who could have caused the failed relationship.
Listenin' while the juke box
I am listening to a song on the jukebox.
Plays a song that makes me blue
The song that the jukebox is playing is making me sad.
Another cup of coffee
I pour myself another cup of coffee.
Then a cigarette or two
I smoke a few more cigarettes.
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!