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.
Rich Man Rich Man
Marty Robbins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ain't nothin' left but bad land for the poor man
Rich man's money, rich man's school
Did they make the poor man, rich man's fool
Rich man, rich man never have dirty hands
Never hold a plow that's turnin' his land
Poor man holds it day by day
I work the field come rain or shine
What else can I do
I have nothing nor has mine
Are we rich man's fools
Poor man, poor man always be a poor man
Sit at the end of day then I'm a tired man
Rich man's money, rich man's school
Did they make the poor man, rich man's fool
Rich man worried 'bout all the money spent
Worried 'bout taxes, he owes the government
Then on payday poor man shines
They can't tax just one thin dime
God loves both of us rich and poor alike
Loves us both the same, equal within his sight
Has no favourites, this I know
For the good book tells me so
Wealth can't buy a home on high
Not all the worldly gold
Faith, on bended knees, can buy
A home in saviour's soul
Rich and poor the same, no good without the flame
I mean the flame of love, sent down from God above
If our Faith in Him we lose
Rich or poor, we're both a fool
The lyrics describe the disparity and injustice between the rich and poor in society. The rich man has all the good land and never has to work with his hands, while the poor man must work hard every day to make a living. The rich man's money and education have made the poor man feel like a fool or a slave, while the rich man worries about taxes and finances. However, the lyrics also argue that God loves both the rich and poor equally and material wealth cannot buy a home in heaven.
The song highlights the social and economic inequality that still exists in society today. Despite being written in the 1960s, the lyrics are still relevant and important today. The song is a commentary on the exploitation of the poor and the unequal distribution of resources in society. It argues that education, wealth, and power should not be the only things that define one's worth or success in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Rich man, rich man got all the good land
The wealthy individuals have obtained all of the fertile lands.
Ain't nothin' left but bad land for the poor man
The only land that's left for the poorer individuals is unproductive.
Rich man's money, rich man's school
The financial resources and educational opportunities are predominantly directed towards the wealthy classes.
Did they make the poor man, rich man's fool
Is it the case that the less privileged were purposefully manipulated by the affluent?
Rich man, rich man never have dirty hands
The wealthy have no experience with manual labor or grueling work.
Never hold a plow that's turnin' his land
They don't tend to agricultural work conducted on their lands.
Poor man holds it day by day
Such toiling work is instead assigned to the unprivileged strata.
Did they make the poor man, rich man's slave
Have the affluent purposely enslaved the less prosperous individuals?
I work the field come rain or shine
I slog away in the fields, regardless of the weather conditions.
What else can I do
What other options do I have?
I have nothing nor has mine
My family and I possess no material wealth.
Are we rich man's fools
Are we made to be pawns of the wealthy individuals?
Poor man, poor man always be a poor man
The poor are always consigned to their fate of being poor.
Sit at the end of day then I'm a tired man
By the end of the day, the exhaustion one feels often bestows the duty to sit and rest.
Rich man's money, rich man's school
The plenteous financial assistance and educational opportunities are granted to the rich.
Did they make the poor man, rich man's fool
Is it true that the well-to-do exploit the indigent through malicious schemes?
Rich man worried 'bout all the money spent
The affluent worry about their copious monetary expenditure.
Worried 'bout taxes, he owes the government
They're apprehensive about the taxes they need to pay to the government.
Then on payday poor man shines
On payday, the unprivileged sections are delighted.
They can't tax just one thin dime
They don't need to pay any tax since there isn't any money to tax.
God loves both of us rich and poor alike
The Lord loves all of mankind equally, regardless of their economic status.
Loves us both the same, equal within his sight
In the eyes of the divine, all souls are considered equal.
Has no favourites, this I know
I'm certain that there is no hint of partiality from the almighty.
For the good book tells me so
This fact has been well documented in the Bible.
Wealth can't buy a home on high
Prosperity holds no sway in the afterlife.
Not all the worldly gold
Even all the riches of the world cannot purchase a home in heaven.
Faith, on bended knees, can buy
Regardless of financial status, faith is a means to achieve salvation.
A home in saviour's soul
It is through the benevolence of Jesus Christ that one can gain entry into heaven.
Rich and poor the same, no good without the flame
Regardless of poverty, the absence of love serves no helpful purpose.
I mean the flame of love, sent down from God above
Love, a virtue sent from the divine creator, carries great importance.
If our Faith in Him we lose
If we stray from our faith in God, there can be no good.
Rich or poor, we're both a fool
Irrespective of their worth, people without faith are foolish.
Contributed by Adrian M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Don Hawkins
only one Marty Robbins--this sounds like the late fifties!
mrbobevans
This song is better than Lennon's Baby You're a Rich Man.
Final Destination* R
Deep