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.
Utah Carol
Marty Robbins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And why my brow is darkened like the clouds upon the hill
Run in your ponies closer and I'll tell to you my tale
Of Utah Carol my partner and his last ride on the trail
We rode the range together and rode it side by side
I loved him like a brother, and I wept when Utah died
We were rounding up one morning when work was almost done
Underneath the saddle that the boss's daughter rode
Utah that very morning had placed a bright red robe
So the saddle might ride easy for Lenore his little friend
And it was this red blanket that brought him to his end
The blanket was now dragging behind her on the ground
The frightened cattle saw it and charged it with a bound
Lenore then saw her danger and turned her pony's face
And leaning in the saddle tied the blanket to its place
But in leaning lost her balance, fell in front of that wild tide
"Lay still Lenore I'm coming," were the words that Utah cried
His faithful pony saw her and reached her with a bound
I thought he'd been successful, and raised her from the ground
But the weight upon the saddle had not been felt before
His backcinch snapped like thunder and he fell by Lenore
Picking up the blanket he swung it over his head
And started cross the prairie, "Lay still Lenore," he said
When he got the stampede turned and saved Lenore his friend
Then turned to face the cattle and meet his fatal end
His six gun flashed like lightning, the report rang loud and clear
As the cattle rushed and killed him he dropped the leading steer
On his funeral morning I heard the preacher say
I hope we'll all meet Utah at the roundup far away
Then they wrapped him in a blanket that saved his little friend
And it was this red blanket that brought him to his end
The song Utah Carol by Marty Robbins tells a tragic tale of love, loyalty, and sacrifice. The song begins with the singer being asked why he's so sad and proceeds to narrate the story of Utah Carol, his partner, and the events leading to his death. The cowboy tells how he and Utah rode the range together and how much he loved him as a brother. They were rounding up cattle, almost done with the work, when Utah's horse fell because of a red blanket underneath the saddle. The frightened cattle charged forward, and Lenore, the boss's daughter, fell off her horse, but Utah saved her. Unfortunately, the weight of the saddle on his horse was too much, and he too fell, picking up the red blanket to distract the cattle so that Lenore could escape. As he turned to face the cattle, his six-gun flashed like lightning, rang loud and clear, and the leading steer killed him.
Line by Line Meaning
And now my friends you've asked me what makes me sad and still
I'll tell you a story about why I'm heartbroken
And why my brow is darkened like the clouds upon the hill
I'm in mourning, my face a sad and stormy sight
Run in your ponies closer and I'll tell to you my tale
Get your horses near so I can share what happened now
Of Utah Carol my partner and his last ride on the trail
This story's about my friend Utah Carol and his final journey
We rode the range together and rode it side by side
We were cowboys, partners, and rode the fields in unity
I loved him like a brother, and I wept when Utah died
I mourned Utah like he was my own kin, tears wetting my cheeks
We were rounding up one morning when work was almost done
We were finishing a day’s work, gathering cattle in the sun
When on his side the cattle started on a frightened run
All of a sudden, the cows were spooked and began to run
Underneath the saddle that the boss's daughter rode
Beneath the saddle of the boss's daughter, there was something stowed
Utah that very morning had placed a bright red robe
Just earlier that day, Utah had tied a red blanket to lighten the load
So the saddle might ride easy for Lenore his little friend
Lenore, his young friend, could then ride comfortably until the day’s end
And it was this red blanket that brought him to his end
It was the red blanket that caused Utah’s life to come to an end
The blanket was now dragging behind her on the ground
The red cloth now trailed behind her, scattered on the ground
The frightened cattle saw it and charged it with a bound
Seeing the fabric, the cows were frightened, charged and surrounded
Lenore then saw her danger and turned her pony's face
The child then realized the danger and her horse turned to face
And leaning in the saddle tied the blanket to its place
She bravely tried to fix the situation by tying and knotting the blanket's lace
But in leaning lost her balance, fell in front of that wild tide
Her balance was lost, she fell down in the stampede’s wild ride
"Lay still Lenore I'm coming," were the words that Utah cried
Utah yelled out to Lenore promising to help, to stay still and abide
His faithful pony saw her and reached her with a bound
His horse bounded towards the young girl, it knew where it was bound
I thought he'd been successful, and raised her from the ground
They thought the horse had saved her, she lifted up from the ground
But the weight upon the saddle had not been felt before
Little did they know the burden was too much, which had not been felt before
His backcinch snapped like thunder and he fell by Lenore
With a deafening noise, the cinch broke, and Utah fell by Lenore
Picking up the blanket he swung it over his head
Picking up the red cloth, he raised and swung it over his head
And started cross the prairie, "Lay still Lenore," he said
He then rode across the fields, inspiring Lenore to lay still and not be led
When he got the stampede turned and saved Lenore his friend
After successfully stopping the runaway cows, he saved Lenore in the end
Then turned to face the cattle and meet his fatal end
He then turned to face the cows and meet a fatal fate, unable to bend
His six gun flashed like lightning, the report rang loud and clear
His gun fired rapidly, the bright light flashed, and the noise was sheer
As the cattle rushed and killed him he dropped the leading steer
Being overpowered by the herd, he dropped the lead cow, death becoming clear
On his funeral morning I heard the preacher say
During his funeral, the preacher spoke to pay homage and to pray
I hope we'll all meet Utah at the roundup far away
He wished that they would meet again on the distant, vast prairie
Then they wrapped him in a blanket that saved his little friend
They wrapped him in the same red cloth that had helped Lenore until the end
And it was this red blanket that brought him to his end
In the end, it was this very blanket that resulted in his death, my friend
Lyrics © Public Domain
Written by: Traditional
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!