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 Elena
Marty Robbins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Maria Elena can't you see how much I care
To me your voice is like the echo of a sigh,
And when you're near, my heart can speak above a sigh/\.
Maria Elena, say that we will never part
Maria Elena, take me to your heart
A love like mine is great enough for two
To share this love is really all I ask of you.
repeat
The lyrics of Marty Robbins's song Maria Elena express the deep love and admiration of the singer towards his beloved. The opening line of the song, "Maria Elena, you're the answer to a prayer," indicates that the singer feels that his love for Maria Elena is a blessing and is exactly what he had been praying for. He implores Maria Elena to acknowledge his love saying "Maria Elena can't you see how much I care?" He describes her voice as the "echo of a sigh" which alludes to the fact that her voice is so mesmerizing that it creates a longing, breathless effect. In her presence, he feels his heart speak louder than any sigh.
The singer desires a commitment from Maria Elena in the following lines "Maria Elena, say that we will never part, Maria Elena, take me to your heart." The love he has for her is great enough for the two of them and all he asks is to share this love with her. The lyrics convey intense emotions and reflect the persona's yearning for true love and a desire for a lifelong commitment with Maria Elena.
Line by Line Meaning
Maria Elena, you're the answer to a prayer,
You are the fulfillment of my deepest desires and wishes, Maria Elena.
Maria Elena can't you see how much I care
Do you not see the depth of my affection for you, Maria Elena?
To me your voice is like the echo of a sigh,
Your voice is as comforting and soothing as the sound of a deep breath.
And when you're near, my heart can speak above a sigh.
When you're close to me, I feel such intense emotion that I can barely contain it.
Maria Elena, say that we will never part
Promise me, Maria Elena, that we will never be separated from each other.
Maria Elena, take me to your heart
Embrace me fully, Maria Elena, in your heart and in your love.
A love like mine is great enough for two
The love I have for you is capable of being shared by both of us.
To share this love is really all I ask of you.
All I desire from you is to accept my love and offer yours in return, Maria Elena.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: TONY HAZZARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Primrose Haran
simply stunning love this song from the best ever singer ever love marty
Roy Allen
Another twenty years and old songs like this will be no where to be found
Yvonne Johnson
Marty has wings and sings with the rest of the angels
Nancy Duncan
So beautiful, thanks for the memories
Deborah Dyess
so beautiful. marty was the best western singer and best singer of all to me
Banderuola66-Szonja
I saw this on the top of your fave list...had to click on it.... Hey it is exactly the one, that I thought it was :)) Beautiful !!! Thankyou for sharing. Big Thumbs Up !!!
Jerry and Betty Hale
LORDY I REMEMBER SINGING THIS BACK IN 1938 WHEN I WAS JUST A LITTLE BOY THAT LOVED MUSIC ALONG WITH JIMMY DORSEY ORCHESTRA
ildibildi53
Thanks for posting :):)
Webo Pebo
Ditto :-)
The Lost Rock n Roll Wop Soul Of the 1950s 1960s
Marty Robbins is very talented he had a bad childhood but humble his music lives on forever considering him as my favorite country ballad singer along with Johnny Cash beautiful songs Marty is singing right here brings tears because he sings with his heart sentimental