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.
Streets of Laredo
Marty Robbins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As I walked out in Laredo one day
I saw a young cowboy, wrapped all in white linen
Wrapped in white linen, as cold as the clay
Oh, beat the drum slowly and play the fife lowly
Sing the Death March as you carry me along
Take me to the valley, there lay the sod o'er me
I'm a young cowboy, I know I've done wrong
I see by your outfit that you are a cowboy
These words he did say as I boldly walked by
Come sit down beside me and hear my sad story
Got shot in the breast and I know I must die
Go fetch me some water, a cool cup of water
To cool my parched lips, then the poor cowboy said
Before I returned, his spirit had left him
Had gone to his Maker, the cowboy was dead
Oh, beat the drum slowly and play the fife lowly
Sing the Death March as you carry me along
Take me to the valley, there lay the sod o'er me
I'm a young cowboy, I know I've done wrong
The lyrics to Marty Robbins's song “Streets of Laredo” tell a somber tale of a young cowboy who is dying after being shot in the chest. As the song begins, the singer describes walking through the streets of Laredo and stumbling upon a young cowboy who is wrapped in white linen and as “cold as the clay.” The young cowboy asks for the traditional funeral tune, “The Death March,” to be played as he is carried to the valley to be laid to rest. He asks for forgiveness for his past wrongdoings, acknowledging his time spent as a cowboy and the mistakes he made.
The second verse introduces a second cowboy who notices the singer’s outfit and assumes he is also a cowboy. This cowboy proceeds to share his own sad story of being shot and knowing he is going to die. He requests a glass of water before his ultimate passing. The somber tune and the plea for forgiveness that permeate the song create a melancholic yet beautiful piece of music.
Line by Line Meaning
As I walked out in the streets of Laredo
The singer begins by describing the setting of his story, the streets of Laredo.
As I walked out in Laredo one day
The singer emphasizes that he was simply walking one day in this location.
I saw a young cowboy, wrapped all in white linen
The singer sees a young cowboy wrapped in white linen, already deceased.
Wrapped in white linen, as cold as the clay
The cowboy is being described as being white and cold, comparing him to the actual clay of the earth.
Oh, beat the drum slowly and play the fife lowly
The artist is calling for a slow, mournful tune to be played.
Sing the Death March as you carry me along
The singer is accepting his fate and asking for a somber song to be played during his procession.
Take me to the valley, there lay the sod o'er me
The singer is asking to be taken to his final resting place and buried.
I'm a young cowboy, I know I've done wrong
The artist is admitting his wrongdoings and is accepting his punishment.
I see by your outfit that you are a cowboy
The deceased cowboy has spotted the artist's cowboy outfit and addresses him.
These words he did say as I boldly walked by
The deceased cowboy spoke up as the artist was walking by with confidence.
Come sit down beside me and hear my sad story
The deceased cowboy asks the singer to sit with him and listen to his story.
Got shot in the breast and I know I must die
The deceased cowboy reveals that he's been shot in the chest and knows that he's going to die.
Go fetch me some water, a cool cup of water
The dying cowboy requests some water to quench his thirst.
To cool my parched lips, then the poor cowboy said
The dying cowboy is expressing his intense thirst.
Before I returned, his spirit had left him
The singer left to get the water and returned only to find that the cowboy had already passed away.
Had gone to his Maker, the cowboy was dead
The cowboy had passed away and was now with his maker.
Oh, beat the drum slowly and play the fife lowly
The artist repeats his call for a somber tune to be played.
Sing the Death March as you carry me along
The deceased cowboy's body is being carried in a funeral procession and the singer wants a sad song to accompany it.
Take me to the valley, there lay the sod o'er me
The deceased cowboy is asking to be buried in a valley.
I'm a young cowboy, I know I've done wrong
The artist repeats that he's aware of the mistakes he's made and he's accepting of his fate.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Marty Robbins
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@injunmick8498
For those who like to sing along as I do....
As I walked out in the streets of Laredo
As I walked out in Laredo one day
I spyed a young cowboy, wrapped all in white linen
Wrapped in white linen, as cold as the clay
Oh, beat the drum slowly and play the fife lowly
Sing the Death March as you carry me along
Take me to the valley, there lay the sod o'er me
I'm a young cowboy, I know I've done wrong
I see by your outfit that you are a cowboy
These words he did say as I boldly walked by
Come sit down beside me and hear my sad story
Got shot in the breast and I know I must die
Go fetch me some water, a cool cup of water
To cool my parched lips, then the poor cowboy said
Before I returned, his spirit had left him
Had gone to his Maker, the cowboy was dead
Oh, beat the drum slowly and play the fife lowly
Sing the Death March as you carry me along
Take me to the valley, there lay the sod o'er me
I'm a young cowboy, I know I've done wrong
@longhorn762
when I returned from Vietnam in July 1966 I sang this song to my self and listened to it again and again. Lost all my friends. Was sad and don't know why this song stuck in my mind. Thank you Marty Robbins for a great sad song that tpuched my heart
@juanm.o1560
Marty Robbins fue soldado en la segunda guerra mundial. Estuvo destinado en Hawaii. Cantaba como los ángeles.
@franciscoalmaras7042
Thank You for your service Sir. Greetings from Laredo Texas.
@l.o.2005
I'm at work and on a break. A young man was whistling and it just reminded me of this great sad song. I found this on YouTube and God Bless You and ALL of Our Veterans, past and present!
@Sage-qd6tf
Damn. Thank you for your service, I hope you're doing good now.
@hobomeatballthemovies323
My Dad fought in that war; he came back. But he had died even there even though he was still alive here. Oh, well.
@MSCar64
Sitting here, listening to this song, bawling like a baby. My dad passed almost two years ago. When he passed I wasn't even sad. He died of Alzeimers, and he had already been gone for so long in so many ways. My dad had one or two LPs by Marty and this was one of the songs he would play. It reminds me of when he was a source of strength and love for the whole family. RIP Marty. RIP Dad.
@jayjaynella4539
I felt relief when my mother passed away after several years in a nursing home. Terrible place to be for anyone. She had dementia to the point where a conversation was the same sentence over and over.
@williamscott5640
My Dad just passed on Friday, April 14, 2023, he to was a strong man. Not so much this past year. He was suffering from so much. He was a Marty fan, found a cd that said Dad's Favorites on it. This song was on the cd. 👍
@brucebean5669
Here I set thinking of dad