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.
Too Far Gone
Marty Robbins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Then I could break away
I've lost control somehow
I'm too far gone
I'm at my all time low
Don't know which way to go
Can't get you off my mind
I'm too far gone
But it's nothin' more than just a feeble try
When you kiss me like no other one has kissed me
Oh, the thrill I get tells me I've told a lie
Oh, Leslie lovin' you
It's wrong but still I do
I can't get over you
I'm too far gone
I'd like to rearrange
My life but I can't change
Too late I find out now
I'm too far gone
I've tried to tell myself that I don't love you
But it's nothin' more than just a feeble try
When you kiss me like no one but you can kissed me
Oh, the thrill I get tells me I've told a lie
In Marty Robbins's song "Too Far Gone," the singer tells of his struggles with trying to break away from a toxic relationship. The song is a lament for the singer's loss of control, as he feels that he has become too invested in his love interest. He acknowledges that he is at his "all-time low" and "can't get you off [his] mind." Despite his attempts to convince himself otherwise, he knows that he loves this person deeply, as demonstrated through the "thrill" he gets from their kisses.
The singer seems to be caught in a cycle of self-deception, trying to tell himself that he can move on from this person, but ultimately giving in to temptation. He refers to his love for his partner as "wrong," but he still can't help himself. He is stuck in a state of wanting to rearrange his life but knowing that he cannot change the past.
Overall, "Too Far Gone" is a poignant depiction of the turmoil that comes with falling deeply in love with someone who may not be the best for you. The singer's lyrical struggle to separate himself from his partner ultimately illustrates the difficulty that can come with acknowledging the need to break away from a toxic relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
If I could stay away
The person wishes they could stay away from the situation.
Then I could break away
Breaking away from the situation is dependent on staying away.
I've lost control somehow
The person feels out of control of the situation.
I'm too far gone
The person has reached a point of no return in the situation.
I'm at my all time low
The person is feeling very low emotionally.
Don't know which way to go
The person is unsure of what to do next.
Can't get you off my mind
The person is unable to stop thinking about someone/something.
I'm too far gone
Reiterating that the person has reached a point of no return in the situation.
I've tried to tell myself that I don't want you
The person has tried to convince themselves that they don't want something/someone.
But it's nothin' more than just a feeble try
The attempt to convince oneself was weak and not effective.
When you kiss me like no other one has kissed me
The person has experienced something unique when being kissed by a specific someone.
Oh, the thrill I get tells me I've told a lie
The person realizes that they have been lying to themselves about not wanting/loving someone/something.
Oh, Leslie lovin' you
Referring to the person they love as Leslie.
It's wrong but still I do
The person acknowledges that loving this person/situation is not right, but they still do it.
I can't get over you
The person cannot move on from the person/situation they love.
I'm too far gone
Reiterating that the person has reached a point of no return in the situation.
I'd like to rearrange
The person wishes to make changes to their life.
My life but I can't change
Despite wanting to make changes, the person feels unable to do so.
Too late I find out now
The person has realized too late that they cannot change the situation.
I'm too far gone
Reiterating that the person has reached a point of no return in the situation.
I've tried to tell myself that I don't love you
The person has tried to convince themselves that they don't love someone/something.
But it's nothin' more than just a feeble try
The attempt to convince oneself was weak and not effective.
When you kiss me like no one but you can kissed me
The person has experienced something unique when being kissed by a specific someone.
Oh, the thrill I get tells me I've told a lie
The person realizes that they have been lying to themselves about not wanting/loving someone/something.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MICHAEL GERALD LUNN, JAMES EUGENE ROBINSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Zane Starr
Sadly listening to him sing makes you realize how poor the modern Country scene has become...He was, is. & probably will be the best there has ever been...
David Anderson
I most certainly agree.
Primrose Haran
just love listening to marty all the time he is the best xxx
Florida45Gal
What a VOICE !!! died toooo soon. No one can sing like that now-a-days. Too bad a lot of people don't remember how great he was.
charles mays
One of my favorite songs by Marty. First heard this on March 24,1962 and still love to hear it over and over.
Shirley Lawlor
Just wonderful can listen for hours
bluedream428
His friend Don Winters said he was the Entertainer of the Century. I am glad to say I was a friend of Marty's and he was one of the greatest men I have ever known. Too Far Gone should have been a huge hit!
Rosalie McFarland
Thank you YouTube for the visit to the songs of my youth. I forget to play these songs that gave me some much pleasure. I have played so much beautiful music but in all of my years I have never heard an artist with the talent and voice of Marty Robbins. If I was sure God would let Marty sing for us in Heaven I would not fear to go. He was a true treasure.
Maj-Brith H
Very good!
Anthony Seiler
I don't listen to todays so called country music, because I still find
Martys" wonderful music on YouTube. I just love it thank You.