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.
The Master's Call
Marty Robbins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A youth within my teens, but full of challenge and desire
I ran away from home and left my mother and my dad
I know it grieved them so to think their only boy was bad
I fell in with an outlaw band, their names were known quite well
How many times we robbed and plundered, I could never tell
This kind of sinful living leads only to a fall
I learned that much and more the night I heard my Master call
One night we rustled cattle, a thousand head or so
And started them out on the trail that leads to Mexico
But a norther started blowing and lightning flashed about
I thought someone was calling me, I thought I heard a shout
Then at that moment lightning struck not twenty yards from me
And left there was a giant cross where once there was a tree
And this time I knew I heard a voice, a voice so sweet and strange
A voice that came from everywhere, a voice that called my name
So frightened I was thinking of sinful deeds I'd done
I failed to see the thousand head of cattle start to run
The cattle they stampeded, were running all around
My pony ran but stumbled and it threw me to the ground
I felt the end was near, that death would be the price
When a mighty bolt of lightning showed the face of Jesus Christ
And I cried oh Lord forgive me, don't let it happen now
I want to live for you alone, Oh God these words I vow
My wicked past unfolded, I thought of wasted years
When another bolt of lightning killed a hundred head of steers
And the others rushed on by me and I was left to live
The Master had a reason, life is his to take or give
A miracle performed that night, I wasn't meant to die
The dead ones formed a barricade least six or seven high
And right behind it there was I, afraid but safe and sound
I cried and begged for mercy kneeling there upon the ground
A pardon I was granted, my sinful soul set free
No more to fear the angry waves upon life's stormy sea
Forgiven by the love of God, a love that will remain
I gave my life and soul the night the Saviour called my name
The song "The Master's Call" by Marty Robbins tells the story of a young man who, full of fire and challenge, ran away from home and got involved with an outlaw band. He participated in many robberies and other crimes, until one night while rustling cattle, he heard a voice that he thought was calling him. Shortly after, lightning struck close to him and transformed a tree into a giant cross. He then heard a sweet and strange voice that called his name, frightening him and making him think of his sinful deeds. The cattle stampeded and threw him from his pony, and he believed death would be the price for his wicked past. However, a second bolt of lightning killed a hundred head of steers, forming a barricade between him and the stampeding cattle, and he was left alive and safe. The young man realized that he was granted a pardon from his sins, and he gave his life and soul the night the Savior called his name.
The song is a powerful representation of religious redemption, emphasizing that it is never too late to seek forgiveness and live a better life. It also depicts the transformative power of religious experiences while conveying the idea that life and death are in the hands of a higher power.
Line by Line Meaning
When I was but a young man I was wild and full of fire
I was once a youthful, wild and impulsive man
A youth within my teens, but full of challenge and desire
At that time, I was still in my teenage years, but I was also full of ambitious pursuits and innermost desires
I ran away from home and left my mother and my dad
I took off and abandoned my parents just like that
I know it grieved them so to think their only boy was bad
They must have felt an immense grievance to think that their sole son was misguided
I fell in with an outlaw band, their names were known quite well
I joined a very infamous group of outlaws with well-known names
How many times we robbed and plundered, I could never tell
I cannot quite recollect the number of times that we looted and pillaged
This kind of sinful living leads only to a fall
I finally realized that such immoral living can only result in a downfall
I learned that much and more the night I heard my Master call
It was the night I heard my lord calling that I learned this profound lesson and many more
Then at that moment lightning struck not twenty yards from me
Suddenly, lightning struck me down from barely any distance
And left there was a giant cross where once there was a tree
As the lightning hit, a massive cross materialized in a place previously occupied by a tree
A voice that came from everywhere, a voice that called my name
I heard a seemingly ubiquitous voice, that named me personally
I failed to see the thousand head of cattle start to run
I failed to notice that the thousand cattle we rustled had started running away
The cattle they stampeded, were running all around
The animals run amok and caused chaos around me
My pony ran but stumbled and it threw me to the ground
Unfortunately, my pony stumbled and threw me onto the ground
When a mighty bolt of lightning showed the face of Jesus Christ
Out of the blue, a huge bolt of lightning showed me the portrait of Jesus Christ
And right behind it there was I, afraid but safe and sound
I realized that behind the apparition of Christ, I was alive and miraculously unharmed
The dead ones formed a barricade least six or seven high
The dead cattle made it impossible for other animals to reach or harm me; they made the ultimate sacrifice
Forgiven by the love of God, a love that will remain
I was pardoned and set free from all my sins by God, his love which will always remain
I want to live for you alone, Oh God these words I vow
I apologize Lord for all the misdoings; I promise you that from now on, I will lead a life only for you
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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!