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.
Looking Back
Marty Robbins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can see where I caused you strife
And I know, yes I know
I'd never make that same mistake again
Lookin' back over my deeds
I can see signs wise men heed
And if I just had the chance
I'd never make that same mistake again
But I gave nothin' in return
Now I can't begin to tell you
What a lesson I have learned
Well, lookin' back over the slate
I can see love turnin' to hate
And I know, yes I know
I'd never make that same mistake again
Once my cup was overflowin'
But I gave nothin' in return
Now I can't begin to tell you
What a lesson I have learned
Well, lookin' back over the slate
I can see love turnin' to hate
And I know, yes I know
I'd never make that same mistake again
The lyrics to the song, Looking Back, by Marty Robbins, deal with introspection and acknowledging past mistakes. The singer reflects on his life, admitting that he caused strife with someone and made mistakes that he regrets. He understands the importance of learning from those experiences, and notes that he would never make the same mistakes again if given the chance. The song also touches on the theme of reciprocity, about the importance of giving back to those who have given to us. The singer realizes that he previously took without giving anything in return, but has now learned from that lesson.
Additionally, the song addresses the fragility of love and how it can turn into hate if not nurtured and cared for properly. The singer looks back on a relationship where love was once overflowing but ultimately turned into hate. He understands the gravity of the situation and knows the importance of treating love with care and attention.
Overall, the lyrics of Looking Back express the sentiment of growth and the importance of reflecting on one's past mistakes in order to become a better person. It highlights the lessons we learn from our experiences and how they shape us as individuals.
Line by Line Meaning
Lookin' back over my life
Reflecting on my past experiences
I can see where I caused you strife
I recognize the moments where I caused you pain
And I know, yes I know
I fully understand the gravity of my mistakes
I'd never make that same mistake again
I aim to avoid making the same mistakes in the future
Lookin' back over my deeds
Examining my past actions
I can see signs wise men heed
I now understand the advice of those who are wiser than me
And if I just had the chance
If given the opportunity
I'd never make that same mistake again
I am committed to learning from my errors
Once my cup was overflowin'
I was extremely fortunate in the past
But I gave nothin' in return
I did not show gratitude for my blessings
Now I can't begin to tell you
I can't fully express
What a lesson I have learned
How much I have gained from my experiences
Well, lookin' back over the slate
Reflecting on my past like viewing an empty slate
I can see love turnin' to hate
I witnessed love transform into animosity
And I know, yes I know
I am now fully aware
I'd never make that same mistake again
I am determined to prevent it from happening again
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: PHIL SAWYER, SPENCER DAVIS
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!