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'm Beginning to Forget You
Marty Robbins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I should because I've tried
With all my might
I think that I'm beginning to forget you
Cause I only cried a little bit last night
I think that I'm beginning to forget you
I think, or maybe it just seems that way
Cause I only read your letters once today
Lately I hardly think about you
Unless I'm by myself or with a friend
I think that I'm beginning to forget you
Cause I only kiss your picture now and then
Lately I hardly think about you
Unless I'm by myself or with a friend
I think that I'm beginning to forget you
Cause I only kiss your picture now and then
In Marty Robbins's song "I'm Beginning to Forget You," the lyrics convey the singer's struggle to move on from a past love. The repeated phrase "I think that I'm beginning to forget you" suggests that the singer is attempting to let go of the memories and emotions associated with the person they once loved. This line also implies that forgetting is a deliberate choice, perhaps indicating the singer's desire to heal and move forward.
The lyrics express the singer's determination to forget by highlighting their efforts. They mention trying "with all my might" to forget the person, emphasizing the strong will and determination behind their actions. This could signify the singer's active pursuit of personal growth and emotional healing following the end of the relationship.
The use of phrases like "I only cried a little bit last night" and "I only read your letters once today" suggests that the singer's emotional attachment is gradually diminishing. The diminishing intensity of their emotional reactions indicates progress in their journey to forget and let go. The repetition of these lines further emphasizes the singer's gradual detachment and increasing ability to cope with the pain of the past.
The lyrics also reveal that the singer's thoughts of their former love are becoming less frequent. They admit that lately, they hardly think about the person unless they are alone or with a friend. This suggests that the singer is finding distractions and is slowly shifting their focus toward other aspects of life. It showcases the singer's progress in healing and finding solace in activities and social connections outside of their past relationship.
Furthermore, the line "Cause I only kiss your picture now and then" implies a decreasing intimacy with the memory of the person. The singer used to engage with physical symbols of their former love more frequently, but now they only sporadically interact with the picture. This signifies a lessening of the emotional hold the person once had on the singer's heart.
Overall, the lyrics of "I'm Beginning to Forget You" portray a gradual process of healing and moving on from a past love. The singer's deliberate efforts to forget, their diminishing emotional reactions, the decreasing frequency of thoughts about the person, and their reduced interaction with reminders all contribute to the portrayal of a person who is slowly but surely releasing themselves from the grip of a lost love. Through these lyrics, Marty Robbins captures the emotional journey of moving on and finding the strength to let go.
Line by Line Meaning
I think that I'm beginning to forget you
I believe that the memories of you are slowly fading away
And I should because I've tried
It is necessary for me to forget you as I have made an effort to do so
With all my might
With great strength and determination
Cause I only cried a little bit last night
Because I shed tears over you to a small extent last night
I think, or maybe it just seems that way
There is a possibility that what I believe is true, or it could be a mere perception
Cause I only read your letters once today
Because I only glanced through the letters you sent me once today
Lately I hardly think about you
Recently, thoughts of you occupy my mind less frequently
Unless I'm by myself or with a friend
Unless I am alone or in the company of a friend
Cause I only kiss your picture now and then
Because I only occasionally give a tender touch to your photograph
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Gerald Franklin
Marty Robbins didn't sing a song as much as he painted a picture. No one will ever take his place.
Alan Colwill
Just Pure Class. Marty had a great voice.
barrygioportmorien1
Fantastic song by Marty, It's off the Devil Woman album, every song on it was top notch.
bobvocal
My favourite country singer what a voice, plus such a showman on stage
Primrose Haran
he is simply wonderful love everything he sings
latokatn506
They just Can't Get any better than This RIP Marty
carol biggs
great voice
Zane Starr
From one who knows...If you think you are beginning to forget her, you never will...Even when you know you should.
steve weninger
Yep, I know to well!
Michael Terry
Got that right lol.