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 Wine Flowed Freely
Marty Robbins Lyrics
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We lived in a world all our own
Nobody cared where my money came from
If I had it I wasn't alone
Oh, the wine flowed freely and friendship was mine
How they all loved me back then
But here in my prison I'm sitting alone
So drink and be merry if that is your wish
Your souls, to the Lord, I commend
Remember some day you may be as I am
With nothing, not even a friend
Oh, the wine flowed freely and friendship was mine
How they all loved me back then
But here in my prison I'm sitting alone
And now where are all of my friends
So here's to the freedom I never will have
For me it's not long to the end
But it's better to die then to spend forty years
With the cold prison walls for a friend
Oh, the wine flowed freely and friendship was mine
How they all loved me back then
But here in my prison I'm sitting alone
And now where are all of my friends
The song "Wine Flowed Freely" by Marty Robbins paints a vivid picture of a man reflecting on the days gone by when he was surrounded by friends, money and endless possibilities. He speaks of his youth, when he lived in a world of his own and how nobody cared where his money came from. As long as he had it, he was never alone. The wine flowed freely and so did his friendships, how his friends loved him back then. But now he sits alone in his prison cell, wondering where all his friends have gone.
The lyrics of the song are full of regret and melancholy. The singer of the song has realized that the things that he valued the most in his youth, such as money, fame and status, were all temporary and meaningless. The true value of life is in the relationships that we build and the memories that we create with the people we love. The singer speaks of the freedom that he never had and how he would rather die than spend forty years with the cold prison walls as his only friend.
The song is a poignant reminder that we should cherish the relationships that we have in our lives and not take them for granted. It also shows how fleeting and uncertain life can be, and how we should not let our desire for wealth and power blind us to what really matters in life.
Line by Line Meaning
The days of my youth I remember so well
I recollect those youthful days with nostalgia
We lived in a world all our own
We were oblivious of the world around us
Nobody cared where my money came from
I was not judged by the source of my wealth
If I had it I wasn't alone
I never had to be lonely as long as I had money
Oh, the wine flowed freely and friendship was mine
I had copious amounts of wine and an abundance of friends
How they all loved me back then
My friends had genuine affection for me in that era
But here in my prison I'm sitting alone
I am now confined in isolation in prison
And now where are all of my friends
My friends from the past have abandoned me now
So drink and be merry if that is your wish
Those who desire it can freely imbibe and celebrate
Your souls, to the Lord, I commend
I pray to God for the safekeeping of your souls
Remember some day you may be as I am
Keep in mind that you might end up in my unenviable state
With nothing, not even a friend
Having no one whatsoever, even not a friend
So here's to the freedom I never will have
I am resigned to the fact that I will remain imprisoned
For me it's not long to the end
My remaining time is limited
But it's better to die then to spend forty years
Being alive for the next 40 years in prison is unbearable
With the cold prison walls for a friend
Because the prison walls are my only confidants in here
Oh, the wine flowed freely and friendship was mine
I had copious amounts of wine and an abundance of friends
How they all loved me back then
My friends had genuine affection for me in that era
But here in my prison I'm sitting alone
I am now confined in isolation in prison
And now where are all of my friends
My friends from the past have abandoned me now
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOE T. BABCOCK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Raymomd Arthur
great song by marty.