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've Got No Use for the Women
Marty Robbins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They'll use a man for his money when its gone they'll turn him down
They're all alike at the bottom selfish and grasping for all
They'll stay by a man when he's winning and laugh in his face when he falls
My pal was an honest young puncher honest and upright and true
Till he turned to a gunshooting gambler on account of a girl named Lou
They fell in with evil companions the kind they are better off dead
When a gambler insulted her picture he filled him full of lead
I couldn't help think of that woman as I saw him pitch and fall
If she'd been the pal that she should have he might have been rising a son
Instead of out there in the prairie to die by a ranger's gun
Death's sharp sting did not trouble his chances for life were too slim
Where they were putting his body was all that worried him
He lifted his head on his elbow the blood from his wound flowed red
He gazed at his friends gathered round him he looked up at them and he said
Bury me out on the prairie where the coyotes can howl o'er my grave
Bury me out on the prairie but from them my bones please save
Wrap me up in a blanket bury me deep in the ground
Cover me over the boulders of granite big and round
We buried him on the prairie where the coyotes can howl o'er his grave
His soul is now aresting from the unkind cut she gave
And many another young puncher as he rides past the pile of stones
Recalls some similar woman and think of his moldering bones
The lyrics to Marty Robbins's song "I've Got No Use for the Women" express a bitter and cynical perspective on women. The singer begins by stating that a truly good woman is hard to find, and that most women are only interested in a man's money. He accuses women of being selfish and opportunistic, staying with a man when he is successful but abandoning him when he falls on hard times. He then tells the story of a friend who was a kind and honest man until he was led astray by a woman named Lou. Lou and the friend became involved with a group of bad influences, including a gambler who insulted Lou. In response, the friend shot and killed the gambler, leading to his own death. As he lay dying, the friend asks to be buried out on the prairie, where he can be left to rest in peace. The singer concludes by suggesting that there are many other young men who have met similar fates because of women like Lou.
One possible interpretation of these lyrics is that they reflect a deep sense of betrayal and disappointment. The singer seems to have been let down by women in the past, either personally or through the experiences of others. This has led him to be deeply mistrustful of women in general, and to believe that they are only interested in using men for their own purposes. The story of the friend who falls in with a bad crowd because of a woman suggests that the singer sees women as leading men astray, or as being drawn to bad influences themselves. The final lines, in which the singer suggests that many other men have met similar fates, suggests that he sees this as an ongoing pattern that is unlikely to change.
Line by Line Meaning
I've got no use for the women a true one may seldom be found
The singer believes that finding a truly honest and loyal woman is rare and therefore has no need for them.
They'll use a man for his money when its gone they'll turn him down
Women are often only interested in a man's money and abandon him once it is gone.
They're all alike at the bottom selfish and grasping for all
All women, at their core, are selfish and only care about what they can obtain for themselves.
They'll stay by a man when he's winning and laugh in his face when he falls
Women are only loyal when it benefits them and will abandon a man when he is struggling or no longer successful.
My pal was an honest young puncher honest and upright and true
The artist's friend was a honest and respectable young man.
Till he turned to a gunshooting gambler on account of a girl named Lou
However, he fell into a life of gambling and violence because of a woman named Lou.
They fell in with evil companions the kind they are better off dead
Lou and the singer's friend began associating with dangerous people who only led them into more trouble.
When a gambler insulted her picture he filled him full of lead
After a gambler disrespected Lou, the friend shot and killed him.
All through the long night they trailed him through mesquite and thick chaparral
The friend and Lou were pursued by law enforcement through rough terrain all night.
I couldn't help think of that woman as I saw him pitch and fall
The artist could not help but think that Lou was responsible for the situation that led to his friend's downfall.
If she'd been the pal that she should have he might have been rising a son
If Lou had been a true and loyal friend, his friend might have had a better life and future.
Instead of out there in the prairie to die by a ranger's gun
Instead, his friend was left alone to die in the wilderness, by the hand of a law enforcement ranger.
Death's sharp sting did not trouble his chances for life were too slim
The friend's chances of survival were slim, so the pain of death did not affect him much.
Where they were putting his body was all that worried him
The only concern the friend had was where his body would be buried.
Bury me out on the prairie where the coyotes can howl o'er my grave
The friend requested to be buried in the open wilderness where his body would be exposed to the elements and animals.
Bury me out on the prairie but from them my bones please save
He wanted his bones to be protected from the animals and elements to some extent.
Wrap me up in a blanket bury me deep in the ground
He wanted his body to be wrapped in a blanket and buried deeply in the earth.
Cover me over the boulders of granite big and round
He wished for his grave to be marked with large, round boulders of granite.
We buried him on the prairie where the coyotes can howl o'er his grave
The friend was buried in accordance with his wishes.
His soul is now aresting from the unkind cut she gave
The friend's soul is resting in peace, away from the harm and pain caused by Lou's influence.
And many another young puncher as he rides past the pile of stones
Other young men will pass by his grave and be reminded of similar situations they may have encountered with women like Lou.
Recalls some similar woman and think of his moldering bones
These young men will remember the harm caused by women like Lou and the potential negative consequences that could follow such associations.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BURNS, HAYNES, Ann Burns
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!