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.
They're Hanging Me Tonight
Marty Robbins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Was on a rainy night like this that Flo said we were through.
I told her how I loved her, and I begged her not to go
But another man had changed her mind so I said goodbye to Flo.
Alone within my cell tonight my heart is filled with fear
The only sound within the room is the falling of each tear.
I think about the thing I've done, I know it wasn't right
They'll bury Flo tomorrow, but they're hanging me tonight.
That night he came and took my Flo and headed in to town
I knew I had to find this man and try to gun him down
As I walked by a dim cafe and I looked through the door
I saw my Flo with her new love and I couldn't stand no more,
I couldn't stand no more.
I took my pistol from my hip and with a trembling hand
I took the life of pretty Flo and that good for nothin' man
That good for nothin' man!
I think about the thing I've done, I know it wasn't right
They'll bury Flo tomorrow, but they're hanging me tonight.
"They're Hanging Me Tonight" by Marty Robbins is a poignant song about a man who faces execution after killing his lover and her newfound love. The song is structured around two contrasting scenarios: one set on a rainy night when his lover left him for another man, and the other set in solitary confinement awaiting his execution. The raindrops make him sad and reminds him of the night when Flo left him. The lyrics build up feelings of regret, fear, and sorrow as the singer recounts the events that led to his imprisonment.
The lyrics describe the singer's internal struggle to accept the consequences of his actions, even though he was driven to commit murder out of a sense of betrayal and heartbreak. The singer's confession of his crime is interspersed with memories of Flo and his love for her. The poignant refrain of the song, "I think about the thing I've done, I know it wasn't right, They'll bury Flo tomorrow, but they're hanging me tonight" captures his poignant realization of the gravity of his actions.
The song powerfully evokes the emotions of regret, sorrow, and resigned acceptance of fate. It highlights the fragility of human relationships and the high cost of irrational actions born out of love and heartbreak. Overall, "They're Hanging Me Tonight" is a hauntingly beautiful song that speaks to the universal experience of love, loss, and the human condition.
Line by Line Meaning
When I hear the raindrops comin' down it makes me sad and blue
The singer is reminded of a painful memory when it rains
Was on a rainy night like this that Flo said we were through.
The singer's lover, Flo, broke up with him on a rainy night
I told her how I loved her, and I begged her not to go
The singer expressed his love for Flo and pleaded with her to stay
But another man had changed her mind so I said goodbye to Flo.
Flo left the artist for another man
Alone within my cell tonight my heart is filled with fear
The artist is scared and alone in his jail cell
The only sound within the room is the falling of each tear.
The only noise in the room is the sound of the singer crying
I think about the thing I've done, I know it wasn't right
The singer regrets his actions and knows that they were wrong
They'll bury Flo tomorrow, but they're hanging me tonight.
The artist will be executed for killing Flo and her lover
That night he came and took my Flo and headed in to town
Flo's new lover took her away from the artist
I knew I had to find this man and try to gun him down
The artist planned to kill Flo's new lover
As I walked by a dim cafe and I looked through the door
The singer saw Flo and her new lover together in a dimly lit cafe
I saw my Flo with her new love and I couldn't stand no more,
Seeing Flo with her new lover was too much for the artist to handle
I took my pistol from my hip and with a trembling hand
The singer pulled out his gun, feeling nervous and scared
I took the life of pretty Flo and that good for nothin' man
The singer killed both Flo and her lover in a fit of rage
That good for nothin' man!
The singer shows additional anger and bitterness towards Flo's lover
Lyrics © SURE - FIRE MUSIC COMPANY, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ART WOLPERT, JIMMIE LOW
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@lgd1974
When I hear the raindrops comin' down it makes me sad and blue
Was on a rainy night like this that Flo said we were through.
I told her how I loved her, and I begged her not to go
But another man had changed her mind so I said goodbye to Flo.
Alone within my cell tonight my heart is filled with fear
The only sound within the room is the falling of each tear.
I think about the thing I've done, I know it wasn't right
They'll bury Flo tomorrow, but they're hanging me tonight.
That night he came and took my Flo and headed in to town
I knew I had to find this man and try to gun him down
As I walked by a dim cafe and I looked through the door
I saw my Flo with her new love and I couldn't stand no more,
I couldn't stand no more.
I took my pistol from my hip and with a trembling hand
I took the life of pretty Flo and that good for nothin' man
That good for nothin' man!
I think about the thing I've done, I know it wasn't right
They'll bury Flo tomorrow, but they're hanging me tonight.
@icantchangemynamefor90days51
I love how Marty Robbins sings a song but also tells a story in his songs.
@assholio203
Used to be how every country song was
@malachiwex4622
Yeah like bill cosby said, its how country was written before it hit that country pop/rock and whatever rubbish is out there.... even australia had only story tellers for country music now i guess the tables have turned
@bufordfox8095
Yeah I love those songs
@shootyeah8138
If you like this look up some of Johnny Horton's songs!
@sci_pain3409
Bill Cosby yeehaw
@matthewmunday4685
My dad loved marty robbins music. He passed away a few years ago. I miss him everyday and everytime i listen to marty i think of him. I miss you dad. I love you
@rodeotrin1484
Matthew Munday may he rest in peace ❤️
@LaskyLabs
Sounds like a great man from music taste alone. God rest his soul, I'm very sorry for your loss.
@cannywf1
hahahahahaahahahahahaah