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 Thinks I Still Care
Marty Robbins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just because I spoke her name somewhere
Just because I rang her number by mistake today
She thinks I still care
Just because I haunt the same old places
Where the mem'ry of her lingers ev'rywhere
Just because I'm not the happy guy I used to be
She thinks I still care
But if she's happy thinkin' I still need her
Then let that silly notion bring her cheer
But how could she ever be so foolish
Oh where would she get such an idea
Just because I ask a friend about her
And just because I spoke her name somewhere
Just because I saw her then went all to pieces
She thinks I still care
She thinks I still care
Marty Robbins's song She Thinks I Still Care is a poignant depiction of a man's unrequited love for a woman who believes that he still loves her. The song evokes a sense of mournful longing through the vivid imagery of the man's attempts to move on from the relationship through his actions, such as talking to his friends about her, accidentally calling her on the phone, and visiting the same places they used to go to. Despite his efforts to distance himself from her, the woman's belief that he still cares for her is unwavering.
The lyrics suggest that the man may have moved on from the relationship, but his actions continue to betray his true feelings. Although he claims that he is no longer the "happy guy" he used to be, the woman still thinks he cares for her because he keeps showing up where she is. Through the lyrics, we can sense the man's frustration with the woman's inability to move on and see that he no longer feels the way he used to.
The song ends on a melancholic note, with the man acknowledging that the woman's belief in his affection for her is foolish, yet he doesn't necessarily want to burst her bubble. The song's writer Hank Cochran described inspiration for the song coming from his own personal experiences with unrequited love. The song has been covered by a number of famous artists, including Elvis Presley, Connie Francis, and George Jones.
Line by Line Meaning
Just because I ask a friend about her
Merely inquiring about her to a friend, who happened to bring her up in conversation.
Just because I spoke her name somewhere
Mentioning her name in a passing comment isn't proof that I still hold onto her memory.
Just because I rang her number by mistake today
Accidentally dialing her phone number using my own phone with no intention of speaking with her or attempting to contact her.
She thinks I still care
Despite my actions being relatively indifferent and benign, she believes that I still harbor romantic feelings for her.
Just because I haunt the same old places
Frequenting locations we used to visit together on occasion does not mean I am pining for her or that these places hold significant memories for me.
Where the mem'ry of her lingers ev'rywhere
Being reminded of her presence in the surroundings does not necessarily mean I still hold onto romantic feelings for her.
Just because I'm not the happy guy I used to be
The change in my demeanor could be attributed to a plethora of reasons, not just because of a breakup or lingering emotions from the past.
But if she's happy thinkin' I still need her
If her beliefs concerning my emotions towards her bring her joy, it's not my place to shatter that illusion by telling her the truth.
Then let that silly notion bring her cheer
If it makes her happy to view our interaction as being more significant than it is, then there's no harm in that.
But how could she ever be so foolish
The artist takes slight umbrage at the idea that the other person would interpret these minor interactions as more significant than they are.
Oh where would she get such an idea
The singer is genuinely confused as to how the other person could misinterpret these minor interactions as evidence of enduring feelings.
Just because I ask a friend about her
Even if the question was posed multiple times, it does not mean the artist still is romantically interested in the other party.
And just because I spoke her name somewhere
Mentioning her name out of habit while retelling a story or completely unrelated context does not necessarily indicate remaining romantic feelings.
Just because I saw her then went all to pieces
Reacting emotionally to seeing her in person can be a natural response when reminiscing about the past without indicating ongoing love for her.
She thinks I still care
Despite the singer's actions being mild at best, the other party still clings to the notion that the singer cares more than they do.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, GLAD MUSIC CO.
Written by: STEVE DUFFY, DICKEY LEE LIPSCOMB
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@edRush-is6rt
Marry Robbins and Merle Haggard a team that created a once in a lifetime performance.
@lora9209
Merle Haggard is the best singer, musician,writer,best looking and truely cared about his country and was intelligent! Sure thankful for him and his boys❤️🙏
@dianefiske-foy4717
Excellent!! Two of my favorite performers. Loved the harmonizing at the end of the song 👩🏻🏫👏🏻🥰‼️
@garyhughes5558
I was so lucky to see both these gentlemen and the Sons of the pioneers all in one concert back in the seventies. Each act was wonderful.
@johnhart4495
Miss them both, Marty had such a rich voice, Merle voice always moves you
@candaceleigh123456
Love this...Merle was alittle OUT OF IT!❤
@jocelynvincent3609
Love you Marty ❤
@reefchief8
Merle’s a legend.
@lindaborres5034
Miss you Merle Haggard And Marty Robbins. Great country singers.
@johncamaro4306
just great👍👍👍👍👍🙂🙂🙂🙂