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 Was Only Seventeen
Marty Robbins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She loved him with all her heart, and he the girl adored
But all their friends believed they were too young to know the score
Cause she was only seventeen and he was one year more
Are they old enough to know if love will last a life?
Isn't he too young to be a husband, her a wife?
Within the past I bet it's happened more than once before
Do we have the right to question love that seems so strong?
As long as God has no objection, there can be no wrong
Let us be the first to wish them all the very best
Let us hope their love is strong enough to meet the test
'Cause like I say, I bet it's happened more than once before
When someone else was seventeen and another one year more
The Marty Robbins song "She Was Only Seventeen" is a heartfelt ballad about young love that is challenged by societal expectations surrounding age and maturity. The song's initial verse introduces us to a couple, a seventeen-year-old girl, and her eighteen-year-old boyfriend, who are smitten with one another. The love they share is pure and true, but those around them doubt its validity due to their youth. As the song continues, the lyrics explore the question of whether or not young love can be genuine and lasting. Robbin's suggests that while it may not be the norm, it is indeed possible. He argues that there is no one "right" age to fall in love or get married, and that as long as both parties understand the depth and significance of their love, age should be of no concern.
The chorus of the song emphasizes this message, encouraging listeners to accept young lovers and wish them well. Robbins suggests that despite their age, these young people are capable of profound love and commitment. The song's final line emphasizes this message, reminding us that the situation described in the song is not uncommon or outrageous – other people throughout history have found themselves in similar circumstances.
Line by Line Meaning
She was only seventeen and he was one year more
They were young and in love, with only a one year age gap between them
She loved him with all her heart, and he the girl adored
Their love was strong and reciprocated
But all their friends believed they were too young to know the score
Their friends thought they were too young to make a serious commitment
Cause she was only seventeen and he was one year more
Their young age was the reason for their friends' doubts
Are they old enough to know if love will last a life?
Questioning whether their age is enough to understand the commitment of a lifelong love
Isn't he too young to be a husband, her a wife?
Doubting their readiness for the responsibilities of marriage at such a young age
Within the past I bet it's happened more than once before
Acknowledging that similar love stories have happened before
When someone else was seventeen and another one year more
Just as with this couple, there have been other young couples with a small age gap
Do we have the right to question love that seems so strong?
Reflecting on whether it's fair to question their love when it appears strong to them
As long as God has no objection, there can be no wrong
Believing that if their love is pure and genuine, then it cannot be wrong
Let us be the first to wish them all the very best
Extending well wishes to the couple
Let us hope their love is strong enough to meet the test
Expressing hope that their love can withstand the challenges that may come their way
'Cause like I say, I bet it's happened more than once before
Reiterating that young love with a small age gap is not uncommon
When someone else was seventeen and another one year more
Restating that there have been similar love stories before
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: MARTY ROBBINS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@luismontecinos9916
She was only seventeen and he was one year more
She loved him with all her heart and he the girl adored
But all their friends believed they're too young to know the score
'Cause she was only seventeen and he was one year more.
Are they old enough to know if love will last for life
Isn't he too young to be a husband her a wife
Well in the past I bet it's happened more than once before
When someone was seventeen another one year more.
Do we have the right to question love that seems so strong
As long as God has no objections there can be no wrong
Let us be the first to wish them all the very best
Let us hope their love is strong enough to meet the test.
'Cause like I said I bet it's happened more than once before
When someone was seventeen another one year more.
Do we have the right to question love that seems so strong
As long as God has no objections there can be no wrong
Let us be the first to wish them all the very best
Let us hope their love is strong enough to meet the test.
Source: public domain
@noytay
I was 17 and he was one year more....that was 44 yrs ago. Love is still going strong.
@cerium2728
Beautiful. I’m 17 and she is one year more.
@Bossladyone2
Wow, what a beautiful song with such a gentle reminder that we should not be afraid of Love, when God is in the center of it. Thank You.
@tinytim7014
NO dont let the weirdos on twitter who date 11 yo see this
@gentlemanman6600
“as long as god has no objections there can be no wrong” pure poetry, what an artist Marty Robbins was. May he Rest In Peace
@194692654
very true about my husband and myself 55 years ago today.Thank You God for bringing us together.Amen
@noytay
This is us! Forty nine years + together. Nothing like high school sweethearts.
@smitajky
Same for us. 49 years together and what wonderful years. It would have been a shame to waste more of my life when everything I ever needed or wanted was right there with me. And still is.
@hastidarabijam5891
I'm exactly seventeen years old and now I'm listening to this music
@bgsrickus
Smarter than the average seventeen year old, that's for sure!!!