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.
Please Don't Blame Me
Marty Robbins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So if I hold you a little too tight
Please don't blame me
Tonight is the last time I′ll see you
So if I cry a little too much
Please don't blame me
'Cause we have to part
But I′ll never give you back
The ones you′ve written to my heart
Tonight is the last time I'll see you
So if I don′t want to let you go
Please don't blame me
You want back your old love letters
′Cause we have to part
But I'll never give you back
The ones you′ve written to my heart
Tonight is the last time I'll see you
So if I don't want to let you go
Please don′t blame me
The sentiment expressed in Marty Robbins's song "Please Don't Blame Me" is one of intense sadness and regret as the singer faces the impending end of a relationship. The opening lines set the tone, as the singer acknowledges that this will be the last time they see their beloved. The plea, "if I hold you a little too tight, please don't blame me" suggests that the singer is aware that their intensity, potentially out of fear and desperation, may be off-putting to their partner. The repetition of the line "tonight is the last time I'll see you" emphasizes the tragedy of the situation and the finality of their parting.
The second verse is particularly poignant, as the singer acknowledges that they may cry too much in this final meeting. The line "please don't blame me" is repeated once again, almost as a refrain, suggesting that the singer is desperate to avoid the blame for the end of the relationship. In the following stanza, the sentiment becomes more bitter as the singer refuses to return the love letters that their partner wants back, specifically the ones that they've "written to my heart." This refusal is a clear sign that the singer hopes to hold onto their feelings for their partner, even after they part ways.
The final stanza echoes the first, with the singer acknowledging that they may struggle to let go of their beloved. This plea, "please don't blame me", takes on added significance, as it may be that the singer fears blame not just from their partner but also from themselves, for being unable to hold onto the relationship. Overall, "Please Don't Blame Me" is a heartbreaking statement of a love that is just not meant to be.
Line by Line Meaning
Tonight is the last time I'll see you
This is the final time I will get to see you
So if I hold you a little too tight
In case I do not let go of you easily, please know that it's difficult for me to say goodbye
Please don't blame me
I do not want you to hold me responsible for feeling sad and emotional in this situation
So if I cry a little too much
If I get teary and emotional, please don't judge me as weak or unreasonable
You want back your old love letters
I understand you need to take back the romantic letters you wrote but
'Cause we have to part
this is because we are parting ways
But I'll never give you back
However, I will not give you the letters I have saved, ones that have deeper emotions expressed by you
The ones you've written to my heart
Those letters you wrote that touched my heart will always be with me
So if I don't want to let you go
If it gets challenging for me to let you go, please understand that it isn't easy for me either
Please don't blame me
I hope that you can understand my feelings and not blame me for my emotional reaction
Writer(s): Marty Robbins
Contributed by Tyler I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Anita mohr funes
Que voz maravilhosa que eu nunca tinha ouvido. Que bom gosto de quem postou essas músicas...parabéns!!!!!!!!
jytte thagaard nielsen
A lovely song from my youth!!
db2664
One of my favorites by Marty a great song and arrangement, surprisingly this did not "cross-over" to the pop Charts especially since Marty already had a big hit with "Singing The Blues" a few months earlier. This song would however lay the ground for the monster hit "A White Sports Coat" later in the year as Columbia musical genius Mitch Miller took arrangement cues from this song and used them in the later hit.
Valiant
He just got so great sing voice 👏
jennifur sun
OH MY GOSH!! someone found this song. it was the back side of an old 45 i heard growing up. thanks
Primrose Haran
another lovely song sung by the best marty thanks
ginny white
one side of an old 45 that I grew up hearing
mata3949
Great posting!
CatsPjamas1
@mata3949 Thank you!