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.
Roving Gambler
Marty Robbins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Whenever I need my deck of cards I lay my money down
I lay my money down I lay my money down
I had not been in Washington many more days than three
When I fell in love with a pretty little girl
And she fell in love with me
She fell in love with me fell in love with me
She took me in her parlor cooled me with her fan
Whispered low in Mama's ear I love this gambling man
I love this gambling man love this gambling man
Daughter oh dear daughter what makes you treat me so
To leave your dear old Mama and with that gambler go
Mother, oh dear Mother you know I love you well
But the love I have for the gambling man
No human tongue can tell
No human tongue can tell human tongue can tell
Well I hear the train a-commin', commin' around the curve
Whistlin' and a blowin', strainin' every nerve
Mother, oh dear Mother I'll tell you if I can
If you ever see me commin' again, I'll be with a gamblin' man
Be with a gamblin' man, be with a gamblin' man
In Marty Robbins's song, Roving Gambler, the lyrics speak of the life of a gambler who travels from place to place and gambles all around. This gambler depends on his deck of cards to make money, laying his money down whenever he plays. The song touches on the gambler's experience of love, as he fell in love with a girl in Washington who reciprocated his feelings. The woman's mother was hesitant to accept the gambler, begging her daughter not to leave with him and instead stay with her. Despite the mother's pleading, the daughter left with the gambler, as her love for him was stronger than anything else.
The song provides a glimpse into the life of a traveling gambler and the consequences of falling in love with one. The gambler's love of the game and the thrill of gambling overrides common sense and practicality, leading him and his lover on a path that ultimately leads them to part ways. It is a cautionary tale of following your heart's desires and the risks that come with doing so.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I am a roving gambler I've gambled all around
I am a wanderer who indulges in gambling and have travelled many places to gamble
Whenever I need my deck of cards I lay my money down
I bet my money whenever I am in need of my cards to gamble
I lay my money down I lay my money down
I put my money at stake frequently to play cards
I had not been in Washington many more days than three
I had just arrived in Washington and stayed there for only three days
When I fell in love with a pretty little girl
I fell in love with a beautiful woman
And she fell in love with me
She reciprocated my feelings and fell in love with me too
She fell in love with me fell in love with me
She loved me deeply
She took me in her parlor cooled me with her fan
She invited me to her living room and provided me comfort by fanning me
Whispered low in Mama's ear I love this gambling man
She whispered to her mother that she loved me, despite my gambling habits
I love this gambling man love this gambling man
She loved me for who I am, even with my tendency to gamble
Daughter oh dear daughter what makes you treat me so
Mother questioned daughter about choosing a gambler over her
To leave your dear old Mama and with that gambler go
Mother could not understand why daughter left her to be with a gambler like me
Mother, oh dear Mother you know I love you well
Daughter reassured her mother of her love for her
But the love I have for the gambling man
Daughter made it clear that her love for me was strong
No human tongue can tell
Her love for me was truly indescribable
Well I hear the train a-commin', commin' around the curve
I can hear the train approaching the station from far away
Whistlin' and a blowin', strainin' every nerve
The train is blowing its whistle and making a loud noise as it approaches
Mother, oh dear Mother I'll tell you if I can
I promise to tell my mother if I ever plan to visit her again
If you ever see me commin' again, I'll be with a gamblin' man
If she ever sees me again, I will still be a gambler and probably with me as well
Be with a gamblin' man, be with a gamblin' man
I will still be a gambler and my love interest will still be with me
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Zane Starr
I thought Frankie Laine had nailed this one...I should have known better.
Mr Robbins puts everyone into second place
Dave Ferguson
I love Marty Robbins but Ramblin' Jack Elliott's version kills me.
Margaret Brown
Fantastic singer. I am proud to have met him many years ago
tarquin45
Thanks for your gracious comments. It is a pleasure to me to post songs by Marty and it's also a pleasure to have good folk like yourself appreciating how great he was.
Dave flattop phillips
you always have something new to listen to on marty, always look forward to seeing what you have posted, never a gamble always a pleasure, great song, keep up the good work,
Primrose Haran
really fantastic love this song and marty
Steve Roberts
Senator Robert Byrd from the great state of West Virginia also does a mean version of this song. The senator was quite a fiddler and had great voice.
Graeme Smellie
Lonnie donnegan ramped it up but I prefer martys version
maeuschen64
Thanks first class 5***** very nice Song :-) lg maeuschen64
starboy
Jim Reeves sang this in THE MOVIE KIMBERLY JIM