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.
Ribbon Of Darkness
Marty Robbins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Since my true love walked out the door
Tears I never had before
Ribbon of darkness over me
Clouds a-gatherin' o'er my head
That kill the day and hide the sun
That shroud the night when day is done
Rain is falling on the meadow
Where once my love and I did lie
Now she is gone from the meadow
My love goodbye
Ribbon of darkness over me
Where once the world was young as spring
Where flowers did bloom and birds did sing
Ribbon of darkness over me
Here in this cold room lyin'
Don't want to see no one but you
Lord I wish I could be dyin'
To forget you
Oh how I wish your heart could see
How mine just aches and breaks all day
Come on home and take away
This ribbon of darkness over me
The song Ribbon of Darkness by Marty Robbins is a melancholic tune about the pain of lost love. The singer is consumed by a ribbon of darkness that appeared since his true love walked out the door, causing him to experience emotions he has never had before - tears. The clouds gathering over his head, killing the day and hiding the sun, shroud the night when the day is done. The singer is weighed down by the darkness that permeates his world, symbolized by the ribbon.
The lyrics detail the singer's pain and loneliness. The rain falls on the meadow where once he and his love were together, but now she is gone, and his love goodbye. The ribbon of darkness persists over him, where once the world was young, flowers bloomed, and birds sang. The singer wishes he could forget his love, to be free from the agony he is experiencing. Instead, he is trapped in a cold room, desperately wishing that his love could understand how much he is hurting and come home to take away the ribbon of darkness.
Overall, Ribbon of Darkness is a beautifully crafted song that captures the pain and emotional turmoil experienced by those suffering from a broken heart.
Line by Line Meaning
Ribbon of darkness over me
I am consumed by a feeling of darkness and despair.
Since my true love walked out the door
The darkness I feel is due to my lover leaving me.
Tears I never had before
My sadness is so great that it has brought me to tears.
Clouds a-gatherin' o'er my head
My troubles are building and weighing on me like storm clouds gathering.
That kill the day and hide the sun
My problems are blocking out the light and joy in my life.
That shroud the night when day is done
My darkness continues even into the night, when I should find peace.
Rain is falling on the meadow
The weather reflects my mood, with rain falling on what was once a place of happiness with my love.
Where once my love and I did lie
I shared a deep connection with my lover in this meadow, but now it is empty and barren.
Now she is gone from the meadow
The memory of my lover lingers in this place, but she is physically gone.
My love goodbye
My lover has left me.
Where once the world was young as spring
I once saw the world as full of beauty, like the renewal of springtime.
Where flowers did bloom and birds did sing
The beauty of the world was seen in the flowers and birds singing around me.
Here in this cold room lyin'
I am stuck in this dark, lonely place with no comfort or warmth.
Don't want to see no one but you
I long for the one person who could bring me comfort and love.
Lord I wish I could be dyin'
My pain is so great that I wish for death to end it.
To forget you
The pain is so intense that I want to forget the person who caused it.
Oh how I wish your heart could see
I long for my lover to understand the depth of my pain and sadness.
How mine just aches and breaks all day
My heart is hurting constantly and is breaking under the weight of my sadness.
Come on home and take away
I need my lover to return and take away this burden of pain that I am carrying.
This ribbon of darkness over me
The darkness and pain that I am experiencing is overwhelming and consuming me completely.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Gordon Lightfoot
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
oldtomfool
Ribbon of darkness over me
Since my true love walked out the door
Tears I never had before
Ribbon of darkness over me
Clouds a-gatherin' o'er my head
That kill the day and hide the sun
That shroud the night when day is done
Ribbon of darkness over me
Rain is falling on the meadow
Where once my love and I did lie
Now she is gone from the meadow
My love goodbye
Ribbon of darkness over me
Where once the world was young as spring
Where flowers did bloom and birds did sing
Ribbon of darkness over me
Here in this cold room lyin'
Don't want to see no one but you
Lord I wish I could be dyin'
To forget you
Oh how I wish your heart could see
How mine just aches and breaks all day
Come on home and take away
This ribbon of darkness over me.
Chance Lisk
Ribbon of darkness over me
Since my true love walked out the door
Tears I never had before
Ribbon of darkness over me
Clouds a-gatherin' o'er my head
That kill the day and hide the sun
That shroud the night when day is done
Ribbon of darkness over me
Rain is falling on the meadow
Where once my love and I did lie
Now she is gone from the meadow
My love goodbye
Ribbon of darkness over me
Where once the world was young as spring
Where flowers did bloom and birds did sing
Ribbon of darkness over me
Here in this cold room lyin'
Don't want to see no one but you
Lord I wish I could be dyin'
To forget you
Oh how I wish your heart could see
How mine just aches and breaks all day
Come on home and take away
This ribbon of darkness over me
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Gordon Lightfoot
Steve Tamayo
This song was written by Gordon Lightfoot. That's Grady Martin playing lead guitar. With Marty's voice it made for an outstanding performance.
Jack Chambers
Who did the whistling ?? Classic.
Jim Falkner
with out question one of the greatest singers that ever lived
Fabio B
Can't just listen to this one once, but at least 2 or 3 more times before I can move onto the next song. Times have changed since many of us would have to wait to hear our favorite songs on AM Radio, but now I can spoil myself and listen to it when ever or where ever I want. This song is completely luxurious to the ears. Thank God I'm a Country/Folk Boy!
Derek Emrie
Marty Robbins was the soundtrack for many an imaginary American southwest cowboy movies...I would play them in my mind every time my dad would play his records. What a fine voice he had. Thanks for posting!
washington warui
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Bobbie LaVanway
Loved this gentleman's voice. He is deeply missed, but remembered as now here thanks to people posting his music, and I say "Thank You" for doing so.
William
What a great singer! Beautiful treatment of Gordie Lightfoots classic song
Daniel Burns
this song went to #1 on the country charts in 1965!!!
jayham1970
I never realized that Gordon Lightfoot wrote this song. RIP, GL. You were one helluva songwriter.