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.
Jenny
Marty Robbins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What do friends fulfill
Why are friendships stronger
And the love affair I remember still
What are friends for, Jenny
If it's not to share little moments talking
And little days of care
What are friends for, Jenny
And little days of care
Maybe, I could love you
Maybe, I could try
And then, we'd be like any lovers
And the love affair could die
So, if I want to hold you
Gently in my care
It's just because I almost loved you
And that's why friends are there
If I write you love songs, Jenny, understand
It's just because I almost loved you
And it's better we're still friends
In Marty Robbins's ballad "Jenny," the singer reflects on the relationship he shares with his friend, Jenny. The lyrics discuss the beauty and importance of friendship, highlighting the special moments shared between friends, as well as the loyalty and support that make these connections so valuable. The singer reveals his suppressed feelings for Jenny - that he could "almost love" her - but he is willing to cherish their friendship rather than risk it for a romantic entanglement. He acknowledges that his love anthems to her are just a reflection of his conflicted emotions and that it's better they remain as friends.
The song has a poignant and reflective tone, with a notable focus on introspection and emotional honesty. The lyrics draw attention to the complex and often unwritten rules of friendship, questioning why we value these connections and what they bring into our lives. The verses capture the nuances of the various experiences shared between friends, from "little moments talking" to "little days of care." The chorus emphasizes the idea that "friends are there" to offer support and kindness, even when there is no possibility of a romantic relationship.
Overall, "Jenny" is an insightful exploration of the depth and significance of friendships. It highlights the complexities and challenges of maintaining these relationships while acknowledging their immense value and the ways in which they enrich our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
What are friends for, Jenny
What purpose do friends serve, Jenny?
What do friends fulfill
What needs and desires do friends satisfy?
Why are friendships stronger
Why are friendships more enduring than romantic relationships?
And the love affair I remember still
And I still remember our past romantic involvement.
What are friends for, Jenny
What reason do we have for being friends, Jenny?
If it's not to share little moments talking
If it's not to share small conversations and experiences,
And little days of care
And little acts of kindness and concern.
What are friends for, Jenny
What justification do we have for friendship, Jenny?
If it's not to share little moments talking
If it's not to share small conversations and experiences,
And little days of care
And little acts of kindness and concern.
Maybe, I could love you
Perhaps I could have romantic feelings for you.
Maybe, I could try
Perhaps I could attempt to pursue a romantic relationship with you.
And then, we'd be like any lovers
And then, our relationship would be like any other romantic relationship.
And the love affair could die
And our romance could eventually come to an end.
So, if I want to hold you
So, if I want to show affection towards you,
Gently in my care
In a gentle, caring manner.
It's just because I almost loved you
It's simply because I had almost fallen in love with you.
And that's why friends are there
And that is why we remain friends with each other.
If I write you love songs, Jenny, understand
If I write romantic songs for you, Jenny, please understand
It's just because I almost loved you
It's simply because I had almost fallen in love with you.
And it's better we're still friends
And it's better for our friendship that we did not pursue a romantic relationship.
Lyrics © PAUL J. VANCE PUBLISHING CO.
Written by: JANIS IAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
mrbobevans
I love this album so much. Marty never lost his touch.
Country Aficionado
My personal favorite!
Cherry Tree
What a singer :-) What a song !!!!
Colin Clark
Just lovely 😍😍
Jennie Anderson
I really understand the words of this beautiful song, Sometimes,it is better not to cross that line... you can always be wonderful friends ✨
Carol Mccoy
OMG! I have never heard this song before. He was my favorite country western singer in the sixtys and somehow I missed this one until now. What a beautiful song😊😊😊. I looked it up and he wrote this song and many many others. His songs always tell a story. He was the best and his voice is like butter!😂 Wish he was still with us. RIP, Marty. My daughters name is Jenny!😊😊
nape jack
Great album, thanks for posting!
Raymond Arthur
Great song & album.
Earl McMullin
Marty was one of the best...I love traditional country music....but the greatest male voice singer was Nat King Cole EVER
Shirley Lawlor
Wonderful