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.
Ride Cowboy Ride
Marty Robbins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't ride too slow
Tucson's a mighty long way yet to go
He started his long ride in Prescott
The sun was a hundred or more
On down he rode at full gallop
Into the flat desert floor
Driving the big herd to Flagstaff
Happiness soon would be sorrow
Sad news the letter did bear
Ride, cowboy, ride
Don't go too slow
Ride, cowboy, ride
You've a long way to go
Your darlin' now lies on her deathbed
Racked by fever and pain
Reaching for you at her bedside
At each breath she's callin' your name
Forward he leaned in the saddle
Pushing through mesquite and sage
His head never raised for a greeting
As he passed the Wickenburg stage
Ride, cowboy, ride
Don't ride too slow
Tucson's a mighty long way to go
In Phoenix he traded horses
Now on the back of this roan
He could see visions of Tucson
His darlin' and their lovely home
Ride, cowboy, ride
Don't ride too slow
There's still a hundred and twenty to go
In through the ranch gate he galloped
And without breaking his stride
He bounded out of the saddle
And rushed to his sweet darlin's side
Then as the dyin' girl saw him
A smile came over her face
Holding her hand as it tightened
Barely had he won the race
Ride, cowboy, ride
On through the blue
Ride, cowboy, ride
She'll be waiting for you
Ride, cowboy, ride
On through the blue
Ride, cowboy, ride
She'll be waiting for you
The song, "Ride Cowboy Ride", by Marty Robbins is about a cowboy who is on a long ride to visit his lover who is on her deathbed. The song begins by encouraging the cowboy to ride fast, as Tucson is a long way away. The cowboy had started his journey from Prescott and was riding at full gallop through the flat desert floor towards Flagstaff, where he had received a letter with sad news about his lover. She was sick and her condition had become worse. She was now lying on her deathbed, calling out his name with each breath. The cowboy did not stop, but rode on, pushing through mesquite and sage, determined to reach his lover.
The cowboy made many stops along the way, including in Phoenix where he traded horses for a roan, and finally, he arrived at his lover's ranch in Tucson. He galloped through the ranch gate and, without breaking his stride, bounded out of the saddle to rush to his lover's side. As she saw him, a smile came over her face, and she held his hand tightly before finally passing away. The song ends with the cowboy being encouraged to continue riding through the blue, as she would be waiting for him.
The song is a heart-wrenching tale of a cowboy's love for his partner, and the lengths he will go to be by her side. The story and melody of this song were hugely popular when it was first released and have since become an iconic piece of western music.
Line by Line Meaning
Ride, cowboy, ride
Encouraging the cowboy to continue on his journey.
Don't ride too slow
Urging the cowboy to ride at a faster pace.
Tucson's a mighty long way yet to go
Noting the long distance between Prescott and Tucson.
He started his long ride in Prescott
Describing where the cowboy began his journey.
The sun was a hundred or more
Indicating that it was a hot day.
On down he rode at full gallop
Describing how the cowboy rode his horse.
Into the flat desert floor
Indicating that the terrain was flat and desert-like.
Driving the big herd to Flagstaff
Describing what the cowboy was doing during his journey.
In Prescott the letter was there
Noting that a letter was waiting for the cowboy in Prescott.
Happiness soon would be sorrow
Foreshadowing that bad news was coming.
Sad news the letter did bear
Revealing that the letter contained bad news.
You've a long way to go
Encouraging the cowboy to continue on his journey.
Your darlin' now lies on her deathbed
Revealing that the cowboy's loved one is gravely ill.
Racked by fever and pain
Describing the symptoms of the loved one's illness.
Reaching for you at her bedside
Noting that the loved one wants to see the cowboy.
At each breath she's callin' your name
Further indicating that the loved one wants the cowboy to be there.
Forward he leaned in the saddle
Describing how the cowboy rode his horse.
Pushing through mesquite and sage
Indicating that the terrain changed during the journey.
His head never raised for a greeting
Noting that the cowboy was focused on reaching his destination.
As he passed the Wickenburg stage
Describing a landmark on the journey.
There's still a hundred and twenty to go
Noting how far the cowboy still needs to travel.
In Phoenix he traded horses
Describing what the cowboy did in Phoenix.
Now on the back of this roan
Describing the type of horse the cowboy was now riding.
He could see visions of Tucson
Noting that the cowboy was thinking about his destination.
His darlin' and their lovely home
Describing the things the cowboy was thinking about as he neared his destination.
In through the ranch gate he galloped
Describing how the cowboy arrived at his destination.
And without breaking his stride
Indicating that the cowboy was in a hurry.
He bounded out of the saddle
Describing how the cowboy dismounted his horse.
And rushed to his sweet darlin's side
Noting what the cowboy did upon arriving at his destination.
Then as the dyin' girl saw him
Describing the loved one's reaction to seeing the cowboy.
A smile came over her face
Indicating that the loved one was happy to see the cowboy.
Holding her hand as it tightened
Describing what the cowboy did when he reached the loved one's side.
Barely had he won the race
Noting that the cowboy arrived just in time.
On through the blue
Indicating that the cowboy is continuing on his journey.
She'll be waiting for you
Noting that the loved one will be waiting for the cowboy when he returns.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: LEE EMERSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
A
on Johnny Fedavo
This is a fantastic, emotional song, thanks to whoever added the meaning behind the lyrics to this song. Makes it easy for some to understand a bit better!