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.
Kingston Girl
Marty Robbins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Then I'll see Kingston Bay
And when I see Kingston Bay
I'll see my Kingston woman
I'll see my Kingston girl
I work on boat that sails the sea
Kingston woman waits for me
I want my Kingston woman
I want my Kingston girl
I wish I never leave my home
Kingston Town where I belong
Kingston girl who loves me so
The one I hurt when I go
This was a long, long time ago
Soon we walk on golden sand
Kingston woman hold my hand
When the moon is shining bright
I'll kiss my Kingston woman
I'll kiss my Kingston girl
Just another night and day
Then I'll see Kingston Bay
And when I see Kingston Bay
I'll see my Kingston woman
I'll see my Kingston girl
The lyrics of Marty Robbins's song, "Kingston Girl," describe a sailor who longs to return to the woman he loves in Kingston. He sings about how he works on a boat that sails the sea and how his Kingston woman waits for him to come back from his travels. He wishes he could stay in his hometown of Kingston where he belongs with the woman he loves. The sailor regrets hurting his Kingston girl when he left, but he longs to be with her again. In his mind, he can envision himself walking with his woman on golden sand, holding her hand, and kissing her under the shining moon. The repetition of the phrase "I'll see my Kingston woman/I'll see my Kingston girl" throughout the song emphasizes how much the sailor misses his love and how excited he is to see her again when he returns to Kingston Bay.
The song seems to evoke a sense of nostalgia and longing for home and the person they love. The sailor's yearning to be with his Kingston woman and his regret for leaving her is palpable. The song's vivid imagery of walking on golden sand with his lover and kissing her under the shining moon is an idyllic portrayal of a romantic reunion that adds to the song's melancholic tone. The song's focus on the sailor's desire to see his Kingston woman in the context of the larger theme of longing for one's hometown creates a feeling of bittersweet nostalgia.
Line by Line Meaning
Just another night and day
I'm living my life just like any ordinary day.
Then I'll see Kingston Bay
Until I reach Kingston Bay.
And when I see Kingston Bay
Once I arrive at Kingston Bay.
I'll see my Kingston woman
I'll catch a glimpse of the woman I fell in love with from Kingston.
I'll see my Kingston girl
I'll see my darling from Kingston.
I work on boat that sails the sea
I work on a ship that sails across the ocean.
Kingston woman waits for me
The woman I'm in love with from Kingston eagerly awaits my return.
Waits for me to see the world
She wants me to explore the world and grow as a person.
I want my Kingston woman
I yearn for my beloved woman from Kingston.
I want my Kingston girl
I miss my Kingston sweetheart.
I wish I never leave my home
I regret ever leaving the place where I truly belong.
Kingston Town where I belong
I know deep down that Kingston is my true home.
Kingston girl who loves me so
The woman I care for from Kingston loves me deeply.
The one I hurt when I go
I caused her pain when I left for my journey.
This was a long, long time ago
This happened a while back.
Soon we walk on golden sand
We long to stroll along beautiful beaches together.
Kingston woman hold my hand
The woman from Kingston I cherish will hold my hand.
When the moon is shining bright
Late at night when the moon is shining bright.
I'll kiss my Kingston woman
I'll plant a tender kiss on my dearest from Kingston.
I'll kiss my Kingston girl
I'll kiss my sweetheart from Kingston.
Just another night and day
My life will continue on like any other day.
Then I'll see Kingston Bay
Until I arrive once again to Kingston Bay.
And when I see Kingston Bay
Once I gaze upon Kingston Bay.
I'll see my Kingston woman
I'll see the woman from Kingston who has my heart.
I'll see my Kingston girl
I'll see the love of my life from Kingston.
Contributed by Savannah Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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!