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.
Ghost Riders in the Sky
Marty Robbins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Upon a ridge he rested as he went along his way,
When all at once a mighty herd of red-eyed cows he saw,
A ploughin' through the ragged skies
And up a cloudy draw.
Yippee-yi-ay, yippee-yi-o,
The ghost herd in the sky.
Their horns wuz black and shiny and their hot breath he could feel,
A bolt of fear went through him as they thundered through the sky,
For he saw the riders comin' hard
And he heard their mournful cry.
Yippee-yi-ay, yippee-yi-o,
Ghost riders in the sky.
Their faces gaunt their eyes were blurred and shirts all soaked
With sweat,
They're ridin' hard to catch that herd but they ain't caught them yet
'Cause they've got to ride forever on that range up in the sky,
On horses snortin' fire
As they ride on, hear their cry.
Yippee-yi-ay, yippee-yi-o,
Ghost riders in the sky.
As the riders loped on by him he heard one call his name,
"If you want to save your soul from hell a-riding on our range,
Then cowboy change your ways today or with us you will ride
A-try'ng to catch the devil's herd
Across these endless skies."
Yippee-yi-ay, yippee-yi-o,
The ghost herd in the sky.
Ghost riders in the sky.
The song "Ghost Riders in the Sky" by Marty Robbins is a haunting tale of a lone cowboy who witnesses a supernatural phenomenon in the sky. As he rides along a ridge, he sees a massive herd of red-eyed cows with brands still on fire, plowing through the ragged skies. The cows are being chased by ghost riders, who are on horses snorting fire and screaming a mournful cry. The cowboy is gripped with fear as he knows what he is seeing is not of this world. The ghost riders are chasing the devil's herd, and they must ride forever on that range up in the sky.
The riders appear gaunt and their eyes blurred, their shirts soaked in sweat, as they ride on trying to catch the elusive herd. As they pass him by, the cowboy hears one rider call his name and give him a warning. He is told that if he wants to save his soul from hell, he must change his ways and stop living a life that leads to damnation.
The song is a classic piece of cowboy folklore that has been covered by many artists over the years. It captures the mystery and magic of the American West and brings to life the folklore that has fascinated generations. The theme of redemption and changing one's ways is also deeply rooted in western culture, where the struggle between good and evil is a common theme.
Line by Line Meaning
An old cowpoke went riding out one dark and windy day,
On a somber day, an old cowboy rode out on his horse, wandering on a trail.
Upon a ridge he rested as he went along his way,
As he journeyed, he paused on a high point of land for a moment of rest.
When all at once a mighty herd of red-eyed cows he saw,
At the same time, he noticed a large group of cattle with glowing red eyes.
A ploughin' through the ragged skies
They were ferociously stampeding through the rough sky.
And up a cloudy draw.
Then, they disappeared into the cloudy mountains.
Their brands were still on fire and their hooves was made of steel,
Their distinctive marks were still aflame, and their feet seemed to be comprised of solid metal.
Their horns wuz black and shiny and their hot breath he could feel,
The livestock's horns were shiny and dark, while the heat from their breath made him uncomfortable.
A bolt of fear went through him as they thundered through the sky,
A sensation of unease had swept over him as they continued to stampede through the sky.
For he saw the riders comin' hard
He could discern the cowboys pursuing them avidly.
And he heard their mournful cry.
Their mournful exclamation was heard by the old cowpoke.
Their faces gaunt their eyes were blurred and shirts all soaked With sweat,
Their faces seemed bony, their vision was clouded, and their clothes were drenched in sweat.
They're ridin' hard to catch that herd but they ain't caught them yet
The riders were attempting to capture the bovines, but they had not succeeded just yet.
Cause they've got to ride forever on that range up in the sky,
On the expanse of sky, they must ride endlessly.
On horses snortin' fire
Horses whose nostrils seemed to be blowing flames of fire.
As they ride on, hear their cry.
As they continue to journey, their cry is still audible.
As the riders loped on by him he heard one call his name,
As the cowboys rode past him, he heard one of them call out his name.
"If you want to save your soul from hell a-riding on our range,
"If you wish to rescue your soul from eternal damnation by riding on our land,
Then cowboy change your ways today or with us you will ride
you must alter your current path, or be forced to ride with us.
A-try'ng to catch the devil's herd
In a fruitless attempt to control the devil's cows.
Across these endless skies."
Throughout the infinite expanse of the sky."
Yippee-yi-ay, yippee-yi-o,
Yippee-yi-ay, yippee-yi-o,
The ghost herd in the sky.
The spirit livestock in the atmosphere.
Ghost riders in the sky.
Ghost cowboys in the sky.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Stanley Jones
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!