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.
Up In The Air
Marty Robbins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Down in the dumps when you're gone
You're out of sight, my day becomes night
Everything seems to go wrong
I'm like a child when you're with me
Emotions I cannot contain
You walk beside me, happiness drives me
I'm like a lamp in the corner
Goes out whenever you're gone
You disappear, then when you reappear
The lamp in the corner comes on
Mold me and make me to please you
That's how I want it to be
I won't complain if you make me a clown
Long as you care for me
I'm like a lamp in the corner
Goes out whenever you're gone
You disappear, then when you reappear
The lamp in the corner comes on
Mold me and make me to please you
That's how I want it to be
I won't complain if you make me a clown
Long as you care for me
In Marty Robbins's song "Up in the Air," the singer describes how their mood and emotions drastically shift depending on whether their love interest is with them or gone. When the love interest is present, the singer is like a child, filled with uncontrollable emotions and happiness that seems to drive them. But when they're gone, the singer feels miserable, as if everything goes wrong for them. The metaphor of a lamp in the corner helps to illustrate the singer's feelings of being dependent upon their love interest. When the love interest is gone, the lamp (the singer) goes out, but when they return, the lamp comes back on.
The singer recognizes the power dynamic at play in the relationship and is willing to sacrifice their own desires to please their love interest. They ask to be molded and made to please them, even if that means becoming a clown. All the singer wants is to be cared for by their love interest, even if it means sacrificing their own sense of self. The lyrics convey a sense of longing and dependence on the love interest, as well as a willingness to do whatever it takes to keep them around.
Line by Line Meaning
Up in the air when you're with me
Being with you feels like it lifts me up and makes me feel weightless
Down in the dumps when you're gone
When you're not here, I feel sad and depressed
You're out of sight, my day becomes night
Without you around, everything becomes dull and dark
Everything seems to go wrong
When you're not here, even the smallest things can seem to go completely awry
I'm like a child when you're with me
Your presence brings out the youthful, carefree side of me
Emotions I cannot contain
I feel things deeply when I'm with you and can't help but express myself
You walk beside me, happiness drives me
Just being near you fills me with an indescribable joy
Everthing seems right as rain
The world feels like it's in perfect order as long as I'm with you
I'm like a lamp in the corner
I'm passive and lifeless when you're not here to give me energy
Goes out whenever you're gone
Without you around, I don't feel like myself and shut down
You disappear, then when you reappear
Your presence is so strong that it feels like you're coming and going like a magician
The lamp in the corner comes on
I come back to life when you return, like a lightbulb turning on
Mold me and make me to please you
I'm willing to change myself to fit your desires and make you happy
That's how I want it to be
I want to do whatever it takes to make you happy, even if it means sacrificing my own identity
I won't complain if you make me a clown
I'll do anything for you, even if it means being foolish or embarrassing myself
Long as you care for me
As long as you love and appreciate me, I'll do anything to keep you happy
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MARTY ROBBINS
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!