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.
Unchained Melody
Marty Robbins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've hungered for your touch
A long lonely time
Time goes by so slowly
And time can do so much
Are you still mine
I need your love
God speed your love
Back to me
Lonely rivers flow to the arms of the sea
To the waiting arms of the sea
Lonely rivers cry wait for me wait for me
I'll be coming home wait for me
My love, wait for me
Wait for me
Wait for me
Wait for me
Wait for me
The song "Unchained Melody" by Marty Robbins is a beautiful love ballad that portrays the longing for someone who is not present. The first stanza "Oh my love my darling, I've hungered for your touch, a long lonely time" set up the theme of the song. The singer is expressing his deep longing for the touch of his beloved. We can discover a sense of emotional vulnerability and desperation in the lines. The chorus "I need your love, I need your love, God speed your love back to me" suggests that the singer is searching for completion through the presence of the other person. He pleads that his love will return soon to satisfy the ache and loneliness he's feeling.
In the second stanza, the singer observes how time passes slowly, yet it can do a lot. The song highlights the purity of love and the significance of expressed affection. The subsequent verse "Lonely rivers flow to the arms of the sea, to the waiting arms of the sea, lonely rivers cry wait for me, wait for me, I'll be coming home wait for me" could depict the singer's geographical distance from the lover or even his emotional separation. The individual compares himself to a river that flows into the arms of the sea, which could indicate the lover's absence that the singer is trying to fill. In summary, the song "Unchained Melody" is a lovely depiction of love's longing, which leaves one feeling empty without the presence of the beloved.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh my love my darling
Addressing the beloved with affection
I've hungered for your touch
Longing for physical contact with the beloved
A long lonely time
Enduring a prolonged state of loneliness
Time goes by so slowly
Moments of separation seem longer
And time can do so much
Time can affect emotions and feelings
Are you still mine
Uncertainty about the beloved's loyalty
I need your love
Expressing a strong desire for love
God speed your love
Wishing for the return of the beloved's affection
Back to me
To return to previously shared love and care
Lonely rivers flow to the arms of the sea
The currents of isolation lead to communal comfort
To the waiting arms of the sea
The ocean symbolizes the embracing arms of a loving partner
Lonely rivers cry wait for me wait for me
The distressed call for the beloved's return
I'll be coming home wait for me
Promising to return to the relationship
My love, wait for me
Asserting the continued love for the partner
Wait for me
Urging to wait and remain faithful
Wait for me
Pleading the importance of waiting
Wait for me
Reinforcing the message to hold on
Wait for me
Finalizing the emotional plea
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, UNCHAINED MELODY PUB LLC
Written by: Alex North, Hyman Zaret
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!