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.
I'll Go On Alone
Marty Robbins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In worlds so far apart
You want me yet there's something else
Before me in your heart
You're wanting me to change my life
The way you're living yours
But I can't change, I see no way
You wanted me before
If you don't want me like I am
Then please don't pity me
If you can't change a little bit
Then why not set me free
If we can't live together then
It's best we live apart
You go your way and I'll go mine
We'll both make brand new starts
There's nothing we can do it seems
We'll never get along
With you believing like you do
You say I live so wrong
But I can't change my way of life
I've lived it much too long
You'll either take me like I am
Or I'll go on alone
So either say you want my love
Or take the way you live
Remember though before you get
You've got to learn to give
So if it's change my life or go
Then go it's gonna be
'Cause I can't change my life when you want something more than me
The opening lines of Marty Robbins’s song “I’ll Go on Alone” depict two individuals headed down different paths, with their worlds being poles apart. Though one of them wants the other, there’s something else taking precedence in their heart, driving them apart instead of bringing them together. The singer mentions that they’re asking the other individual to alter their lifestyle to match theirs, but they can’t see a way of changing. The previous way of life suited the singer in the past, and they can’t change that.
In the second verse, the singer confronts the other person, stating that if they didn’t want them as they are, there’s no need to pity them. If either of them can’t adjust a bit, they should part ways to make a fresh start. It’s better for them to live apart than to endure a life of dissatisfaction because of their differences. In the final verse, the singer lays down an ultimatum, warning the other person that there’s nothing they can do, and they’ll never be together as long as the other individual’s beliefs don’t align. The singer is unwilling to change their way of life, which the other person considers erroneous, and so they leave it on the other person whether they want their love or not.
Overall, the song “I’ll Go on Alone” by Marty Robbins characterizes the struggles of two individuals who are in the stage of accepting that they can’t live a life of compromise. The theme of the song revolves around breakups and dealing with them where the singer describes how he is in a situation where he is unable to change himself. The song ends with the singer moving on to the next phase of his life as he finds himself unable to make the needed changes for the girl he loves.
Line by Line Meaning
We're traveling down two different roads
We are following separate paths in life.
In worlds so far apart
Our paths are very different.
You want me yet there's something else
You desire me, but your heart is not fully committed to me.
Before me in your heart
There is someone or something else that you value more than me.
You're wanting me to change my life
You expect me to alter my way of living.
The way you're living yours
To live more similarly to you.
But I can't change, I see no way
I cannot alter myself, it is impossible.
You wanted me before
You had feelings for me in the past.
If you don't want me like I am
If you cannot accept me as I am.
Then please don't pity me
Do not feel sorry for me.
If you can't change a little bit
If you cannot compromise at all.
Then why not set me free
Then why not allow me to leave.
If we can't live together then
If coexistence is impossible.
It's best we live apart
The ideal solution is for us to separate.
You go your way and I'll go mine
We will follow our separate paths in life.
We'll both make brand new starts
We will begin anew without each other.
There's nothing we can do it seems
There appears to be no viable option.
We'll never get along
We will never be able to coexist.
With you believing like you do
Due to your strong beliefs and convictions.
You say I live so wrong
You think that my way of living is incorrect or unacceptable.
But I can't change my way of life
It is impossible for me to alter my lifestyle.
I've lived it much too long
I have lived this way for far too long.
You'll either take me like I am
You must accept me as I am.
Or I'll go on alone
Otherwise, I will leave without you.
So either say you want my love
Declare if you truly want my love.
Or take the way you live
Choose the path you live by.
Remember though before you get
Bear in mind that before you receive love.
You've got to learn to give
You must learn to give in return.
So if it's change my life or go
If my life must change or we must separate.
Then go it's gonna be
Leaving will be the decision made.
'Cause I can't change my life when you want something more than me
I cannot alter my life to fulfill your wants and needs beyond my capacity.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, 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!