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.
Running Gun
Marty Robbins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I was, running dodging danger,left the, girl that I loved so
Far behind lay Kansas City and the, past that I had earned
Twenty, notches on my six gun marked the, lessons I had learned
Many times I sold my fast gun for a, place to lay my head
Till the, nights began to haunt me by the, men that I lay dead
Couldn't, stand it any longer with the, life that I'd begun
I rode into Amarillo as the sun sank in the west
My thoughts in Kansas City and the girl that I love best
As I smiled and kissed her gently and then turned around to go
Said I'd send for her to meet me when I reached old Mexico
I had barely left the saddle and my foot just touched the ground
When a cold voice from the shadows told me not to turn around
Said he new about my fast gun,new the price paid by the law
Challenged by a bounty hunter,so I turned around to draw
I knew someday I'd meet him for his hand like lightning flashed
My own gun stayed in leather as his bullet tore it's path
As my strength was slowly fading,I could see him walk away
And I knew that where I lie today,he to must lie some day
Now my strength is slowly fading and my eyes are growing dim
And my thoughts return to Jeannie
and the home that we had planned
Oh please tell her won't you mister
that she's still the only one
But a woman's love is waisted when she loves a running gun
In Marty Robbins's song "Running Gun," the singer is escaping from his past in Kansas City and traveling south to Mexico. He has left behind the woman he loves, and his conscience is weighed down by the many lives he took with his fast gun. The singer decides to turn over a new leaf and become a "running gun," meaning he will avoid violence and run away from dangerous situations instead of standing and fighting.
As he heads to Mexico, he stops in Amarillo to reminisce about his love before continuing his journey. However, a bounty hunter challenges him to a duel, and the singer's prediction comes true. His own gun remains in its holster, whereas the bounty hunter's bullet hits him, and he falls to the ground, knowing that the same fate awaits his opponent someday.
As the singer's strength fades away, he thinks of his love once more, asking the stranger who finds him to tell her that she was the only woman he ever loved. However, he realizes that his love for her was futile as she cannot be with a "running gun."
Line by Line Meaning
I rode out of Kansas City, going, south to Mexico
I left Kansas City to go south to Mexico
I was, running dodging danger,left the, girl that I loved so
I was running away from danger and I left behind my love
Far behind lay Kansas City and the, past that I had earned
I left Kansas City with a past that I had earned
Twenty, notches on my six gun marked the, lessons I had learned
I have twenty notches on my six gun, each representing a lesson that I have learned
Many times I sold my fast gun for a, place to lay my head
I have sold my fast gun many times to get a place to sleep
Till the, nights began to haunt me by the, men that I lay dead
I was haunted by the men that I have killed
Couldn't, stand it any longer with the, life that I'd begun
I couldn't continue living the life I was living
So I, said good-bye to Jeannie and, became a running gun
So, I said goodbye to Jeannie and ran away as a fugitive
I rode into Amarillo as the sun sank in the west
I rode into Amarillo at sunset
My thoughts in Kansas City and the girl that I love best
I was thinking about my love from Kansas City
As I smiled and kissed her gently and then turned around to go
I kissed her goodbye and left
Said I'd send for her to meet me when I reached old Mexico
I promised to send for her once I reached old Mexico
I had barely left the saddle and my foot just touched the ground
I had hardly dismounted from my horse
When a cold voice from the shadows told me not to turn around
Someone from the shadows told me not to turn around
Said he new about my fast gun,new the price paid by the law
He knew about my fast gun and the price I have paid for it
Challenged by a bounty hunter,so I turned around to draw
I was challenged by a bounty hunter, so I drew my gun
I knew someday I'd meet him for his hand like lightning flashed
I knew I would meet him one day because he was skilled with a gun
My own gun stayed in leather as his bullet tore it's path
My gun was still in my holster when he shot me
As my strength was slowly fading,I could see him walk away
I was losing consciousness and could see him walking away
And I knew that where I lie today,he to must lie some day
I knew that he would also meet his end someday
Now my strength is slowly fading and my eyes are growing dim
I am losing my strength and my vision is failing
And my thoughts return to Jeannie and the home that we had planned
I am thinking about Jeannie and the home we had planned
Oh please tell her won't you mister that she's still the only one
Please tell her that she is still the only one for me
But a woman's love is waisted when she loves a running gun
A woman's love is wasted when she loves a fugitive
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: TOMPALL GLASER, JIM GLASER
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!