Martin David Robinson (September 26, 1925 – December 8, 1982), known profes… Read Full Bio ↴Martin David Robinson (September 26, 1925 – December 8, 1982), known professionally as Marty Robbins, was an American singer, songwriter, actor, multi-instrumentalist, and NASCAR racing driver. Robbins was one of the most popular and successful country and western singers for most of his nearly four-decade career, which spanned from the late 1940s to the early 1980s.

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.

Knee Deep in the Blues
Marty Robbins Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Well I'm just knee deep in the blues

Well I've just been thinkin' things over
My heart is flowin' with tears
My life just don't seem worth livin'
And it's been this way for years

Don't ask me why I am be crying
'Cause I have lost about all I can lose

Well there's just no use in trying
Well I'm just knee deep in the blues

Overall Meaning

The song "Knee Deep in the Blues" by Marty Robbins is a melancholic and reflective piece about a man who is in the depths of despair. The lyrics are filled with sorrowful sentiments, as the singer expresses his feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and deep emotional pain. He is overwhelmed by his struggles and is finding it difficult to cope with life.

The opening lines of the song, "Well I've just been thinkin' things over, my heart is flowing with tears", set the tone for the rest of the piece. The singer goes on to describe how his life has lost its meaning and how he feels like he's just going through the motions. He talks about how his skies have all turned to gray, symbolizing his lack of hope and happiness. The line "I just walk soles all through my shoes" is especially poignant, as it conveys the heaviness and burden that the singer is carrying with him.

As the song continues, the singer becomes more and more despondent. He admits that he doesn't have much to sing about anymore, and that he's just "knee deep in the blues". The final lines of the song are especially poignant, as the singer acknowledges that there may be no hope for him at all. He says that there's no use in trying, which suggests that he has given up on any chance of happiness or redemption.

Overall, "Knee Deep in the Blues" is a beautifully written and performed piece that speaks to the deepest emotions of human experience.

Line by Line Meaning

Well I've just been thinkin' things over
I have taken time alone to contemplate my life and situation.

My heart is flowing with tears
I feel deep sadness and despair, and cannot contain or hide my emotions.

My life just don't seem worth livin'
I feel that my life has no value or meaning, and I am in a state of hopelessness and despair.

And it's been this way for years
I have been in this state of despair and sadness for a long time with no end in sight.

My skies have all turned to gray now
The future that once seemed bright and hopeful now appears bleak and uncertain.

And I just walk soles all through my shoes
I have been walking aimlessly for so long that my shoes are worn out and my feet are tired.

Well I don't have much to sing now
I have lost my joy and creativity, and feel like I have nothing to offer or share with the world.

Well I'm just knee deep in the blues
I am immersed in a deep sense of sadness, depression, and despair, with no clear way out.

Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MELVIN ENDSLEY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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ComicPancake709

Well I've just been thinkin' things over
My heart is flowing with tears
My life just don't seem worth livin'
And it's been this way for years

My skies have all turned to gray now
And I just walk sols all through my shoes
Well I don't have much to sing now
Well I'm just knee deep in the blues

Well I've just been thinkin' things over
My heart is flowin' with tears
My life just don't seem worth livin'
And it's been this way for years

Don't ask me why I am be crying
'Cause I have lost about all I can lose
Well there's just no use in trying
Well I'm just knee deep in the blues