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.
Just Married
Marty Robbins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just married this mornin'.
How happy they are.
"Just Married" written on
The window of a-their car.
It broke my heart
To see them drive away.
I lost the one I love today.
Dressed all in white satin,
White lace in her hair.
She looked so lovely
It was more than I could bear.
Some people guessed the way that I felt
They saw the tears I could not hide.
[Chorus]
I should have stayed at home.
I knew what was in store,
But somethin' made me come
To see her just once more.
Just married this mornin'.
How happy they are.
"Just Married" written on
The window of a-their car.
It broke my heart
To see them drive away.
I lost the one I love today.
[Chorus]
The lyrics to Marty Robbins's song Just Married tell the story of a heartbroken man who watches as his former love gets married to someone else. The chorus repeats the phrase "just married this mornin'" to emphasize the fact that the wedding has just taken place and the newlyweds are beginning their new life together. However, this only accentuates the pain of the singer, who has lost the woman he loves.
The first verse describes the bride's appearance in detail, with the singer lamenting how lovely she looked in her white satin dress and lace hairpiece. The second verse reveals that the singer knew what was going to happen, but couldn't resist seeing her one last time. The final chorus repeats the first, driving home the sense of sadness and loss that permeates the entire song.
Overall, the lyrics to Just Married paint a picture of one man's heartache as he watches the woman he loves marry someone else. Despite the happy occasion, he can't help but feel a profound sense of loss and sadness.
Line by Line Meaning
Just married this mornin'.
A couple got married today, in the morning.
How happy they are.
The couple is very happy on this special day.
"Just Married" written on
The window of a-their car.
The couple has written "Just Married" on the window of their car, to show that they are newlyweds.
It broke my heart
To see them drive away.
The singer was sad to watch the couple drive away from the wedding.
I lost the one I love today.
The singer has lost the person he loves, who is now married to someone else.
Dressed all in white satin,
White lace in her hair.
The bride was wearing a white satin dress with white lace in her hair.
She looked so lovely
It was more than I could bear.
The singer thought the bride looked so beautiful that he couldn't handle the emotions he was feeling.
Some people guessed the way that I felt
They saw the tears I could not hide.
Some people could tell that the singer was upset, as he was unable to hide his tears.
I should have stayed at home.
I knew what was in store,
But somethin' made me come
To see her just once more.
The singer knew what was going to happen at the wedding, but he came anyways to see the bride one last time before she was married.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: AL ALLEN, BARRY R. DE VORZON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@edwiles5258
I was a kid when this was popular.....my dad had a restaurant and this played on the juke box a lot....also White Sport Coat. Marty was very popular, not only in country but, in fact, during the mid and late 50s he was a top performer on the POP charts. I got to see him perform live in Memphis once , along with Merle Haggard. Marty stold the show and hand the audience eating out of his hand. Such a great singer and showman!
@atfourothirtythree
Just Married and wedding bells are the two saddest I guess I wont be marryjng her songs.
And this is what real country music is
1949
1958
@joankelly8686
My Dad used to sing this to me when I was a child and I would cry because I thought he was going to marry someone other than me!! Now I don't have my Dad anymore I still cry but now tears for beautiful memories close to my heart! Thanks for posting x
@paulschumacher6296
We will never hear such wonderful songs again. Happy we lived during this period of time. Thanks for the upload.
@fadingsmoke9206
the tune is so catchy and makes you sing along. No matter how alone you are, you can always come rest on martys songs' shoulder.
@pegfosnaugh7271
My first of favorites by Marty. I was a little girl and would play this on the jukebox at the neighborhood bar/family restaurant. Never tired of it
@gordoncampbell8127
The second song I remember hearing as a 4-year-old...it's as special now as it was 60 years ago. The backing vocal of "hawkshaw" is a tribute to a country singer killed in an accident...for years I couldn't understand what it meant. His other great hit "A white sport coat.." has a special place in my heart as I went to 3 proms near Allentown, Pennsylvania, back in 1971...when an exchange student from Adelaide, South Australia. Love your music Marty...it lives forever.
@SIXSTARSful
Im getting married next year & we are walking down the aisle to this song after were married.
@mrob75
Only two people hit the dislike button here....I'm tempted to say that both Justin Beiber and Lady Ga Ga were here lurking around this Marty Robbins classic.
@evetsgolb
Marty was a major talent and a decent man..His White sports Coat was another factor in Rockabillys melding into rock and roll...he died to young and I miss him