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.
Paper Face*
Marty Robbins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll treasure it until the day I die
My only happiness is your picture
It's all you left the day you said goodbye
You look so sweet just setting on the table
No other photograph could take your place
And if it's wrong to love you my darling
Since the day you've walked away with my heart
A million tears have fallen from my eyes
And now it's plain to see that you don't want me
I should forget you now I realize
But everytime I look at your picture
It brings back memories time can't erase
And if it's wrong to love you my darling
Then I sin each time I kiss your paper face
The lyrics to Marty Robbins's song "Paper Face" tell the story of a man who is still deeply in love with a woman who has left him. He received a photograph from her, which he treasures more than anything, as it's the only thing she left behind. The photograph brings him happiness even though it's just a two-dimensional image. He admits that loving her through the picture is a sin, but he cannot help but kiss the paper face each time he looks at it. He has shed numerous tears after she left him, and even though he knows that she does not want to be with him, he cannot forget the memories of their time together.
The lyrics of "Paper Face" portray the feelings of a man who cannot give up his love for a woman who has left him. It's a heart-wrenching story of someone who is holding onto something that he can never get back. The song's lament tells us that photographs are more than just pieces of paper, and they can bring back many precious memories to the ones who treasure them. The song ends on a sad note, with the singer admitting that he has sinned by loving a picture, but still cannot let go.
Line by Line Meaning
I still have the photograph that you sent me
The photograph that you gave me is still in my possession
I'll treasure it until the day I die
I will keep the photograph with me for as long as I live
My only happiness is your picture
Your picture brings me happiness, nothing else can replace it
It's all you left the day you said goodbye
After you left, the only thing I have of you is this photograph
You look so sweet just setting on the table
Every time I see the photograph, it reminds me of how sweet you looked when you gave it to me
No other photograph could take your place
No other photograph can replace this one, it's the only thing I have left of you
And if it's wrong to love you my darling
If loving you through this photograph is wrong
Then I sin each time I kiss your paper face
Every time I show love to your photograph, I'm committing a sin but I can't help it
Since the day you've walked away with my heart
Since you left, I've felt incomplete, like you took a part of me with you
A million tears have fallen from my eyes
I've been crying every day since you left
And now it's plain to see that you don't want me
It's now clear that you don't want to be with me and have moved on
I should forget you now I realize
I know I should forget about you and move on
But everytime I look at your picture
But every time I see the photograph
It brings back memories time can't erase
It reminds me of the good memories we shared that time can't take away
And if it's wrong to love you my darling
If it's considered wrong to love you in this way
Then I sin each time I kiss your paper face
Then I commit a sin every time I show affection to your photograph, but I can't help it
Lyrics © HIPGNOSIS SONGS GROUP, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: LOCKLIN, WILLIAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@lenaandersson7270
Marty ONE OF my favoritesinger🎤🎹🎼🎵thanks Bill for lovely song📻🎶
@WickerBillVintageCountryMusic
Good morning Lena, you are welcome and thank you for all the nice comments. Have a great Thursday.
@bethy-lou3307
Love Marty Robbins' songs. First time hearing this. Enjoyed listening. Great job, WB!
@WickerBillVintageCountryMusic
I want to try to get around to posting the whole album in the future. Glad you enjoyed Beth.
@bethy-lou3307
@@WickerBillVintageCountryMusic
Looking forward to that!! He's genuine Country. Love his voice. Have a great evening. Your friend, Beth
@Grahamgusbull
Still just about the best live entertainer I’ve ever seen...and I’ve seen a few...trouble is record wise in the UK,they only seemed to play his gunfighter stuff,so this is a welcome addition to my collection!
@WickerBillVintageCountryMusic
I think i know what you mean...It is hard to find a M.R. compilation album or various country artists of any size that doesn't have El Paso included...seems like i recall it even being on his Greatest Hits Vol 4... I like it but sure to have a copy.
@Grahamgusbull
Wicker Bill ..however, I ADORE El Paso City aaaaeeee!
@rebeccad5988
Thanks for posting from this album first heard
Love Marty Robbins Singing and piano Great entertainment and actor.
Have a blessed weekend Bill. Take care 🙏
@WickerBillVintageCountryMusic
Good morning and you're welcome Rebecca, glad to see you are still safe after a night of the storm and may you stay that way...be careful in N.J.