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.
Do Me a Favor
Marty Robbins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Please stay away from me leave me alone
I've had too many heartaches a little too long
Each time you walk by I don't know why but I wanna cry
And it's always the same when I hear your name there's a hurt inside
Do me a favor turn my picture to the wall
Then just one last favor forget me once and for all
[ steel ]
In Marty Robbins's song Do Me a Favor, the singer begs his former lover to forget about their time together and to leave him alone. He's been through too much heartache for too long, and every time he sees her, he's overwhelmed with sadness. Even the mere mention of her name causes him pain. Therefore, the singer pleads with her to turn his picture to the wall and to let him go for good. The song reflects the pain and confusion that often come with a painful breakup, as the singer struggles to move on while still feeling a deep connection to his former lover.
The lyrics of Do Me a Favor are powerful precisely because they capture the raw emotions that come with heartbreak. Through his song, Marty Robbins shows us just how difficult it can be to let go of someone we once loved deeply. The chorus of the song, in particular, is both plaintive and poignant, as the singer pleads with his former lover to forget about him once and for all. Ultimately, the song is a moving reflection on the complexities of love and heartache.
Line by Line Meaning
Do me a favor let me forget
Please assist me in erasing any memory of our past encounters.
I don't want to remember that we ever met
The thought of our past makes me uneasy and uncomfortable.
Please stay away from me leave me alone
Your presence only causes distress and heartache for me, so please stay far away.
I've had too many heartaches a little too long
I've endured enough emotional pain and suffering for a considerable amount of time.
Each time you walk by I don't know why but I wanna cry
Whenever you come near me, I feel an overwhelming urge to weep without knowing the exact reason why.
And it's always the same when I hear your name there's a hurt inside
Just the mention of your name triggers a painful emotional response within me.
Do me a favor turn my picture to the wall
If you are still holding onto any visual reminders of me, I ask that you hide them or dispose of them in a gesture of goodbye.
Then just one last favor forget me once and for all
Please make a conscious effort to let me go and move on without any lingering feelings or attachments to our past relationship.
[ steel ]
Instrumental break
Each time you walk by...
Reiteration of the emotional turmoil caused by the presence of the other person.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
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!