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.
Maria
Marty Robbins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The way I feel
Maria, you're the only one
To me that was ever real
And yet you beg me go because inside your heart
You know I cannot stay
But keep a light in your window burnin'
Little girl, I'm comin' home some day
Maria, if I only had the power to turn back
The hands of time
I'd spread my wings around you
And little girl, I'd make you mine
'Cause all you ever wanted was to love me
In your plain and honest way
So keep a light in your window burnin'
Little girl, I'm comin' back some day
Oh, Maria, you gave me the precious gift of love
That I have never known
And then you kissed me gently
For when I opened up my eyes, you were gone
And now I'm gonna lose the only good thing
That ever came my way
So keep a light in your window burnin'
Little girl, I'm comin' back some day
Keep a light in your window burnin'
Little girl, I'm comin' back some day
The song "Maria" by Marty Robbins is a melancholic ballad about a man who is torn between his love for a woman named Maria and his duty to leave her behind. In the lyrics, the singer expresses how Maria is the only person who truly understood his emotions and was authentic to him. Despite this, the singer must depart from her because he cannot stay, even though it pains him to leave.
The song also touches on regret and the longing to turn back time. The singer is deeply remorseful that he has to leave Maria and wishes that he could spread his wings around her and make her his forever. The song ends with a bittersweet promise to return to Maria someday, and a plea to keep the light burning in her window, symbolizing hope.
Overall, the song captures the emotion of unrequited love and the pain of being torn between two conflicting desires - the desire to be with someone you love and the obligation to carry out other responsibilities.
Line by Line Meaning
Maria, you're the only one that ever understood
The singer is acknowledging Maria's unique ability to comprehend his complex feelings.
The way I feel
The emotions that the singer harbors inside him.
Maria, you're the only one
Maria is the sole person who has captured the singer's heart.
To me that was ever real
Maria is the only person who has truly touched the singer's heart.
And yet you beg me go because inside your heart
Maria knows that the singer cannot stay, so she urges him to leave.
You know I cannot stay
The singer's stay is temporary, and Maria understands that.
But keep a light in your window burnin'
Maria should keep her window light on as a sign of waiting for the singer to return.
Little girl, I'm comin' home some day
The singer promises Maria that he will return.
Maria, if I only had the power to turn back
If only the singer could reverse time and have Maria with him again.
The hands of time
The unstoppable passage of time that has led Maria and the singer to be separated.
I'd spread my wings around you
The singer would envelop Maria in a protective and loving hug.
And little girl, I'd make you mine
The singer affirms his love for Maria and that he would like to make her his forever.
'Cause all you ever wanted was to love me
Maria's only desire is to love the singer.
In your plain and honest way
Maria loves the singer genuinely and without any pretense.
Oh, Maria, you gave me the precious gift of love
Maria has given the singer the invaluable gift of love.
That I have never known
The singer has never experienced such love from anyone else.
And then you kissed me gently
Maria tenderly kissed the singer before departing.
For when I opened up my eyes, you were gone
When the singer woke up, Maria had already left his life.
And now I'm gonna lose the only good thing
The singer feels he is about to lose one of the finest things he ever had.
That ever came my way
The love he received from Maria is the best thing that has happened to him.
So keep a light in your window burnin'
The singer emphasizes again that Maria should keep a light on for him as he will return.
Little girl, I'm comin' back some day
The singer reiterates his promise of returning to Maria's arms someday.
Keep a light in your window burnin'
Maria should keep her window light on as a sign of waiting for the singer to return.
Little girl, I'm comin' back some day
The singer promises again that he will return to her one day.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Charles E. Daniels
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!