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.
She's Just A Drifter
Marty Robbins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She's never been branded and she's never been tied down
She drifts for a while then she might drift back to town
And somethin' keeps callin' she has to move on to new ground
Wild as a prairie wind, warm as the hot desert sun
Places she's never seen keeps her from settlin' down
Just like a free runnin' river she rambles and rolls
'Cause she's a drifter don't mean that I don't care about her
Sometimes I live with her, sometimes I'm livin' without her
Just when I think that I'm finally beginnin' to tame her
That's when she makes me feel bein' tied down kinda shames her
Down to the ocean, she might stay a while on the beach
Then caught by the high tide she drifts further on out of reach
There's no way a-tellin' how soon you may see her again
Nature's her mother and that makes her kin to the wind
'Cause she's a drifter don't mean that I don't care about her
Sometimes I live with her, sometimes I'm livin' without her
Just when I think that I'm finally beginnin' to tame her
That's when she makes me feel bein' tied down kinda shames her
In "She's Just A Drifter," Marty Robbins sings about a woman who lives a carefree life, drifting from place to place without ever settling down. Despite the title and the lyrics suggesting that she is a "drifter," Robbins assures the listener that just because she chooses to live her life this way doesn't mean he doesn't care about her. He describes her as wild as the prairie wind and warm as the hot desert sun, and says that even though they may spend time together, she always feels the urge to move on to new ground. The highway is her heaven, and she makes the whole world her own.
The lyrics also suggest that although the woman is happy living a life without any ties, Robbins struggles with his own desire to tame her and make her his own. He knows that whenever he thinks he's getting close to catching her, she slips away, and being tied down makes her feel ashamed. He compares her to a free-running river that rambles and rolls, caught by the tide and drifting further out of reach.
Overall, "She's Just A Drifter" is a poetic meditation on the nature of freedom and the human desire to roam, explore, and experience new things. It's a tribute to those who embrace the open road and allow their lives to take them wherever the wind may blow.
Line by Line Meaning
She's just a drifter and she drifts from town to town
This woman has no roots and moves from place to place without a sense of attachment or belonging
She's never been branded and she's never been tied down
She has never been committed or controlled by any one person or place
She drifts for a while then she might drift back to town
She may have brief stays in certain places but ultimately feels compelled to keep moving
And somethin' keeps callin' she has to move on to new ground
There is an internal urge for her to constantly seek new experiences and environments
Wild as a prairie wind, warm as the hot desert sun
She has a free-spirited and passionate nature that is untamed and intense
Places she's never seen keeps her from settlin' down
Her desire to explore and discover new places prevents her from feeling content or satisfied in one location
Just like a free runnin' river she rambles and rolls
She flows freely and effortlessly through life, never stagnant or trapped
The highway's her heaven, she makes the whole world her own
She feels most alive and fulfilled when she is on the move and experiences the world in its entirety
'Cause she's a drifter don't mean that I don't care about her
Despite her transient nature, the artist still has feelings for her and values her as a person
Sometimes I live with her, sometimes I'm livin' without her
Their relationship is unstable and dependent on her movements and decisions
Just when I think that I'm finally beginnin' to tame her
The singer may try to control or influence her, but ultimately realizes that he cannot change her nature
That's when she makes me feel bein' tied down kinda shames her
She sees being constrained or limited as shameful and resists any attempts to hold her back
Down to the ocean, she might stay a while on the beach
She is drawn to natural beauty and may linger in places that offer peace and tranquility
Then caught by the high tide she drifts further on out of reach
The unpredictable nature of the ocean symbolizes her own unpredictable movements and wanderlust
There's no way a-tellin' how soon you may see her again
Her whereabouts are always uncertain and unpredictable
Nature's her mother and that makes her kin to the wind
She identifies with the forces of nature and feels a strong connection to the natural world
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: MARTY ROBBINS
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!