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.
Falina-From El Paso
Marty Robbins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I fell in love with a Mexican girl
Nighttime would find me in Rosa's Cantina
Music would play and Feleena would whirl
Blacker than night were the eyes of Feleena
Wicked and evil while casting a spell
My love was deep for this Mexican maiden
One night, a wild young cowboy came in
Wild as the West Texas wind
Dashing and daring, a drink he was sharing
With wicked Feleena, the girl that I loved
So in anger, I challenged his right for the love of this maiden
Down went his hand for the gun that he wore
My challenge was answered in less than a heartbeat
The handsome young stranger lay dead on the floor
Just for a moment I stood there In silence
Shocked by the foul evil deed I had done
Many thoughts raced through my mind as I stood there
I had but one chance and that was to run
Out through the back door of Rosa's I ran
Out where the horses were tied
I caught a good one, it looked like it could run
Up on its back, and away I did ride
Just as fast as I could from the West Texas town of El Paso
Out to the badlands of New Mexico
Back in El Paso, my life would be worthless
Everything's gone in life, nothing is left
It's been so long since I've seen the young maiden
My love is stronger than my fear of death
I saddled up and away I did go
Riding alone in the dark
Maybe tomorrow, a bullet may find me
Tonight, nothing's worse than this pain in my heart
And at last here I am on the hill overlooking El Paso
I can see Rosa's Cantina below
My love is strong and it pushes me onward
Down off the hill to Feleena I go
Off to my right, I see five mounted cowboys
Off to my left ride a dozen or more
Shouting and shooting, I can't let them catch me
I have to make it to Rosa's back door
Something is dreadfully wrong, for I feel
A deep burning pain in my side
Though I am trying to stay in the saddle
I'm getting weary, unable to ride
But my love for Feleena is strong and I rise where I've fallen
Though I am weary, I can't stop to rest
I see the white puff of smoke from the rifle
I feel the bullet go deep in my chest
From out of nowhere, Feleena has found me
Kissing my cheek as she kneels by my side
Cradled by two loving arms that I'll die for
One little kiss and Feleena, goodbye
The song “Faleena” is a story about a young Mexican woman who was born in a shack in New Mexico in the middle of a desert storm. She left her home at the age of seventeen after being bothered by crazy dreams and tired of desert life. She made her way to Santa Fe where she learned that with a smile, she could have pretty clothes and be any man’s wife. Rich men courted her and she understood how to manipulate them. She moved to El Paso where she danced at Rosa’s Cantina, a place that good girls wouldn’t go to. She met a young cowboy with whom she spent six weeks. However, he became insanely jealous of her flirtatious nature, which led to a gun-fight where he shot down another man. The cowboy had to leave town, but returned to visit Faleena, only to be shot and killed by someone. Faleena, upon hearing the news, kills herself with the cowboy’s gun. Old timers say that on windy nights in El Paso, you can hear Faleena calling for her cowboy.
The song is a tragic love story about a woman who was searching for her dream of happiness. Faleena started from humble beginnings, and with her beauty and charm, she learned how to manipulate men to get what she wanted. However, her flirtatious nature eventually led to her downfall. The young cowboy offered her a chance at true love, but their love was doomed due to jealousy and violence.
Line by Line Meaning
Out in New Mexico, many long years ago
Many years ago in New Mexico
There in a shack on the desert, one night in a storm
In a desert shack during a stormy night
Amid streaks of lightnin' and loud desert thunder
In the midst of lightning and thunder in the desert
To a young Mexican couple, a baby was born
A baby was born to a young Mexican couple
Just as the baby cried, thunder and lightnin' died
The thunder and lightning stopped as the baby cried
Moon gave it's light to the world and the stars did the same
The moon and stars illuminated the world
Mother and Father, both proud of the daughter
Both parents were proud of their daughter
That heaven had sent them, Faleena was this baby's name
They named the baby Faleena, a gift from heaven
When she was seventeen, bothered by crazy dreams
At the age of seventeen, she had troubling dreams
She ran away from the shack and left them to roam
She left the shack and her parents behind to wander
Father and Mother, both asked one another
Her parents questioned each other
What made her run away, what made Faleena leave home
They wondered why Faleena left home
Tired of the desert nights, poverty, grief and strife
She was tired of the hardships of desert life
She ran away late one night in the moon's golden gleam
Under the moon's gleam, she ran away one night
She didn't know where she'd go, but she'd get there
She didn't have a specific destination, but she would find her way
And she would find happiness, if she would follow her dream
She believed she would find happiness by pursuing her dreams
After she ran away, she went to Sante Fe
She went to Santa Fe after leaving home
And in the year that she stayed there, she learned about life
During her year in Santa Fe, she gained life experiences
In just a little while, she learned that with a smile
She quickly learned that she could use her smile to her advantage
She could have pretty clothes, she could be any man's wife
She realized she could have material possessions and marry anyone
Rich men romanced her, they dined and they danced her
Wealthy men courted her, taking her out for meals and dances
She understood men and she treated them all just the same
She had a deep understanding of men and treated them equally
A form that was fine and rare, dark shining glossy hair
She had an exceptional figure and beautiful dark hair
Lovely to look at Faleena was this woman's name
Her name was Faleena, and she was beautiful to behold
Restless in Sante Fe, she had to get away
Feeling unsettled in Santa Fe, she felt the need to leave
To any town where the lights had a much brighter glow
She wanted to go to a town with brighter lights
One cowboy mentioned the town of El Paso
A cowboy mentioned the town of El Paso to her
They never stopped dancin' and money like whiskey did flow
In El Paso, dancing was constant and money flowed freely
She bought a one-way, a ticket from Sante Fe
She purchased a one-way ticket from Santa Fe
Three days and nights on a stage with a rest now and then
She endured a three-day journey on a stagecoach with occasional breaks
She didn't mind that, she knew she would find that
She didn't mind the journey because she was certain she would find
Her new life would be more exciting than where she had been
Her new life would be more thrilling than her past experiences
The stage made it's last stop, up there on the mountain top
The stagecoach made its final stop on a mountain top
To let her see all of the lights at the foot of the hill
From the mountain top, she could see all the lights below
Her world was brighter and deep down inside her
She felt a newfound brightness and excitement within her
An uncontrolled beating, her young heart just wouldn't be still
Her heart raced uncontrollably, filled with anticipation
She got a hotel, a room at the Lily Belle
She checked into a hotel called the Lily Belle
Quickly she changed to a form-fitting black satin dress
She swiftly changed into a tight black satin dress
Ev'ry man stopped to stare, at this form fine and rare
Every man couldn't help but stare at her exceptional beauty
Even the women remarked of the charm she possessed
Even other women were captivated by her charm
Dancin' and laughter, was what she was after
She sought dancing and laughter in her new life
And Rosa's Cantina had lights, with love in the gleam
Rosa's Cantina, with its illuminated lights and romantic atmosphere
That's what she hunted and that's what she wanted
That's what she desired and pursued
Rosa's was one place, a nice girl would never be seen
Rosa's Cantina was a place considered unsuitable for a respectable woman
It was the same way, it was back in Sante Fe
It was no different from her experience in Santa Fe
Men would make fools of themselves at the thought of romance
Men would act foolishly when it came to romantic pursuits
Rosa took heed of, the place was in need of
Rosa realized the place needed
This kind of excitement, so she paid Faleena to dance
Some excitement, so she hired Faleena as a dancer
A year passed and maybe more and then through the swingin' doors
A year or more went by, then a cowboy entered through the doors
Came a young cowboy so tall and so handsomely dressed
A tall, handsome young cowboy arrived
This one was new in town, hadn't been seen around
This cowboy was new to the town, unknown to the locals
He was so different, he wasn't like all of the rest
He stood out, not like the others in town
Faleena danced close to him, then threw a rose to him
Faleena danced near him and gave him a rose
Quickly he walked to her table and there he sat down
He swiftly approached her table and took a seat
And in a day or so, wherever folks would go
Within a day or two, they were seen together everywhere
They'd see this young cowboy, showin' Faleena the town
The townspeople witnessed the cowboy showing Faleena around town
Six weeks he went with her, each minute spent with her
He spent six weeks with her, cherishing every moment
But he was insanely jealous of glances she'd give
However, he was unreasonably jealous of any attention she received
Inside he was a-hurtin', from all of her flirtin'
Hurt inside due to her flirtatious nature
That was her nature and that was the way that she lived
Flirting was simply part of who she was and how she lived
She flirted one night, it started a gun-fight
One night, her flirting led to a violent altercation
And after the smoke cleared away, on the floor lay a man
When the commotion settled, a man lay lifeless on the ground
Faleena's young lover, had shot down another
Faleena's young lover had killed someone
And he had to leave there, so out through the back door he ran
To avoid capture, he fled through the back door
The next day at five o'clock, she heard a rifle shot
The following day at five o'clock, she heard the sound of a gunshot
Quickly she ran to the door, that was facin' the pass
She rushed to the door that overlooked the mountain pass
She saw her cowboy, her wild-ridin' cowboy
She saw her cowboy, a free-spirited rider
Low in the saddle, her cowboy was ridin' in fast
Her cowboy was riding fast, low in the saddle
She ran to meet him, to kiss and to greet him
She ran to embrace and welcome him with a kiss
He saw her and motioned her back, with a wave of his hand
He signaled her to step back with a hand gesture
Bullets were flyin', Feleena was cryin'
Gunfire erupted, and Faleena began to cry
As she saw him fall from the saddle and into the sand
She witnessed him falling off his horse and hitting the sand
Faleena knelt near him, to hold and to hear him
Faleena knelt beside him, holding him and listening to his words
When she felt the warm blood that flowed from the wound in his side
She felt the warmth of his blood flowing from his side wound
He raised to kiss her and she heard him whisper
He struggled to lift himself and whispered to her
"Never forget me, Faleena it's over, goodbye."
"Never forget me, Faleena. It's over, goodbye."
Quickly she grabbed for, the six-gun that he wore
She quickly reached for the six-gun he had on him
And screamin' in anger and placin' the gun to her breast
In a fit of anger, she placed the gun against her chest
Bury us both deep and maybe we'll find peace
She suggested they be buried together, hoping for peace
And pullin' the trigger, she fell 'cross the dead cowboy's chest
She pulled the trigger and fell on top of the lifeless cowboy
Out in El Paso, whenever the wind blows
In El Paso, whenever the wind blows
If you listen closely at night, you'll hear in the wind
If you listen carefully at night, you'll hear it in the wind
A woman is cryin', it's not the wind sighin'
You'll hear the sound of a woman crying, not just the wind's sigh
Old timer's tell you, Feleena is callin' for him
According to old timers, Faleena is calling out for her lover
You'll hear them talkin' and you'll hear them walkin'
You'll hear their voices and footsteps
You'll hear them laugh and you'll look, but there's no one around
You'll hear their laughter, but there won't be anyone there
Don't be alarmed, there is really no harm there
Don't be frightened, there's no real danger
It's only the young cowboy, showin' Faleena the town
It's just the spirit of the young cowboy, showing Faleena the town
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
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!