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.
Southern Dixie Flyer
Marty Robbins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Was a lady old and gray
I could tell her heart was feelin' sad and low
With a teardrop in her eye
She was tryin' not to cry
I determined then her story I would know
I ventured a word
Of a mother who had lost her only child
Yes they've taken her away
These words I heard her say
And they're travellin' on that Southern Dixie Flyer
She was only sweet sixteen
And the only joy I've seen
What God has given now he takes away
She'll be taken home again
On that southbound railroad train
To be laid there with her daddy in the grave
I've no money of my own
I can't even take her home
But I want to be there with my heart's desire
But then she could say no more
As the echo drifted o'er
Was the whistle of that Southern Dixie Flyer
As the train pulled out of sight
And the day became as night
Was a scene to bring a tear to any eye
Just a lady all alone
Not a thing to call her own
But some memories from a better day gone by
I knew right away
There was nothin' I could say
To soothe her heart
Or dry those tear dimmed eyes
So I turned to walk away
From the lady old and gray
Whose heart was on that Southern Dixie Flyer
I've no money of my own
I can't even take her home
But I want to be there with my heart's desire
But then she could say no more
As the echo drifted o'er
Was the whistle of that Southern Dixie Flyer
The song "Southern Dixie Flyer" by Marty Robbins tells the story of an elderly woman who has lost her only child, a 16-year-old girl who has been taken away from her. The woman is at the train station, where she watches the Southern Dixie Flyer depart, carrying her daughter's body back to her hometown to be buried with her father. The lyrics illustrate the woman's heartbreak and grief, as well as her sense of isolation and loneliness.
The song is particularly affecting because it captures the essence of a moment in time — the departure of a train, in this case — and the impact it has on individual lives. Through the woman's story, the listener can feel the sorrow that comes with losing someone they love and the pain of being left alone. The lyrics are simple and straightforward, but Robbins' gift as a storyteller shines through, making it a classic of country music.
Line by Line Meaning
At the station house one day
One day at the train station
Was a lady old and gray
An elderly woman was present
I could tell her heart was feelin' sad and low
The woman appeared to be experiencing sadness and despair
With a teardrop in her eye
There was a tear in her eye
She was tryin' not to cry
She was attempting to hold back tears
I determined then her story I would know
I decided to find out her story
I ventured a word
I spoke to her
Then a sad, sad tale I heard
She told me a sorrowful story
Of a mother who had lost her only child
Her only child passed away
Yes they've taken her away
Her child was taken
These words I heard her say
These are the words she spoke
And they're travellin' on that Southern Dixie Flyer
Her child's remains are being transported on the Southern Dixie Flyer train
She was only sweet sixteen
Her daughter was only sixteen years old
And the only joy I've seen
Her daughter was her only source of happiness
What God has given now he takes away
She believes her daughter's death was God's plan
She'll be taken home again
Her daughter's remains will be taken back home
On that southbound railroad train
Her daughter's remains are being transported on a southbound train
To be laid there with her daddy in the grave
Her daughter will be buried next to her father
I knew right away
I immediately understood
There was nothin' I could say
There was nothing I could do or say to comfort her
To soothe her heart
To calm her emotions
Or dry those tear dimmed eyes
To stop her tears from falling
So I turned to walk away
I left
From the lady old and gray
From the elderly woman
Whose heart was on that Southern Dixie Flyer
The woman's heart and memories were with her daughter on the Southern Dixie Flyer train
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: JOE T. BABCOCK
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!