Martin David Robinson (September 26, 1925 – December 8, 1982), known profes… Read Full Bio ↴Martin David Robinson (September 26, 1925 – December 8, 1982), known professionally as Marty Robbins, was an American singer, songwriter, actor, multi-instrumentalist, and NASCAR racing driver. Robbins was one of the most popular and successful country and western singers for most of his nearly four-decade career, which spanned from the late 1940s to the early 1980s.

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.

Hands You
Marty Robbins Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

THE HANDS YOU'RE HOLDING NOW

The hands you're holdin' now, if you remember
Are the very hands that gave you you're first rose
They're reachin' out for one last dyin' ember
In the ashes of the love that's lost it's glow

But if you don't want me I won't try to keep you

But there's just the smallest chance you may be wrong, so wrong, so wrong
Until you sure I hope you'll never let go
Of the hands that you've been holdin' for so long

I can't forget the first time that I kissed you
It's the sweetest fellin' I have ever known
But every dream, they say, must have an ending
And you leave the hands you're holding for so long

But if you don't want me I won't try to keep you
But there's just the smallest chance you may be wrong, so wrong, so wrong

Until you sure I hope you'll never let go
Of the hands that you've been holdin' for so long

Overall Meaning

The song "The Hands You're Holding Now" by Marty Robbins is a song about holding onto love, even when it seems like it's fading away. The first verse talks about how the hands that the singer is holding onto are the same hands that gave them their first rose. The singer is reaching out for a last "dying ember" of their love that has lost its glow, but they are still holding on. They hope that their partner won't let go of the hands they've been holding for so long.

The second verse talks about how the singer can't forget the first time they kissed their partner and how it was the sweetest feeling they have ever known. However, every dream has an ending, and the singer knows that their partner may leave the hands they've been holding for so long. But the singer is still holding on, hoping for a small chance that their partner may be wrong about leaving.

Overall, the song is about holding onto love even when it seems like it's slipping away. The singer is still hoping for a chance to make things right and for their partner to not let go of the love that they've shared for so long.

Line by Line Meaning

The hands you're holdin' now, if you remember
These hands you are holding right now, if you happen to recall, are the very same hands that gave you your first rose.

They're reachin' out for one last dyin' ember
These hands are extending to grasp the final leftover spark of the love that has lost its vibrancy.

In the ashes of the love that's lost it's glow
That remaining desire for affection is found in the remains of a love that has diminished its brightness.

But if you don't want me I won't try to keep you
If you don't desire to be with me anymore, I will not attempt to force you to stay.

But there's just the smallest chance you may be wrong, so wrong, so wrong
However, there is still a chance, even if it is slim, that you may be incorrect in your decision to leave.

Until you're sure I hope you'll never let go
As long as you have not made up your mind completely, I hope that you will refuse to let go of the hands you have held on to for so long.

Of the hands that you've been holdin' for so long
The hands that you have held close for a significant amount of time.

I can't forget the first time that I kissed you
I will always remember fondly the very first moment when I kissed you.

It's the sweetest fellin' I have ever known
Above anything else, that memory is the most precious and delightful feeling I have ever experienced.

But every dream, they say, must have an ending
However, it is said that every dream, no matter how wonderful, must come to a conclusion eventually.

And you leave the hands you're holding for so long
Thus, you let go of the hands you have held on to for such a significant amount of time.

But if you don't want me I won't try to keep you
Again, I will not attempt to impede you if you have decided that you do not want to be with me.

But there's just the smallest chance you may be wrong, so wrong, so wrong
Nevertheless, there is still that remote possibility that you could be mistaken.

Until you're sure I hope you'll never let go
Thus, I continue to hold out hope that until you are absolutely certain, you won't relinquish the hands you have been holding on to.

Of the hands that you've been holdin' for so long
Those same familiar hands that you have been holding onto for a considerable amount of time.

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