Rainwater was born in Wichita, Kansas, to Stella (née Miller) and Cicero Percy Rainwater, and grew up during the Great Depression. As a child, instead of listening to the Grand Ole Opry with his father, he took classical piano lessons, which ended after he lost part of his right thumb to a work accident as a teenager. He originally trained to be a veterinarian, but after some time in the Navy during World War II took up the guitar.
He became fascinated with Roy Acuff and started playing and writing songs. With his brothers, he played concerts around Virginia. He sometimes wore a buckskin jacket and headband. Rising guitarist Roy Clark worked with Rainwater and together they cut a few demos for 4 Star Records. Pop singer Teresa Brewer turned one of his compositions, "I Gotta Go Get My Baby", into a big hit. Others were overdubbed and released on budget record labels.
Rainwater got his big break in the music business when he performed on Arthur Godfrey's programs. He won first place on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts on May 9, 1955. He had a regular role on ABC-TV's Ozark Jubilee for several years in Springfield, Missouri beginning in 1955. He signed with MGM Records and recorded a series of songs for the label, including peppy numbers like "Hot and Cold". Such songs were showcases for Rainwater's voice, and his energy and versatility led him to record rockabilly.
Rainwater was one of country's most noteworthy stars in the late 1950s, when his good looks and baritone voice made him popular. One of the first country songs he recorded was "Gonna Find Me a Bluebird", which he wrote. Released in 1957, the song became a big country-pop crossover hit, making Rainwater among the first country singers to appeal to a pop market. The song reached No. 3 on the country chart and 18 on the pop chart. It sold one million copies by 1957, and gave Rainwater his first gold record. During the song's success, Rainwater relocated to the New Jersey-New York area. "The Majesty of Love" (1957) was a duet with Connie Francis, which also sold over one million copies. His next single, "So You Think You Got Troubles", was a successful follow-up on the country charts, but not on the pop charts. His self-penned "Whole Lotta Woman" reached UK No. 1 for three weeks in April and May 1958. A second UK single, "I Dig You Baby", made No. 19 in June 1958. "Nothin' Needs Nothin' (Like I Need You)" missed the UK Top Thirty chart, but returned him to the US Country chart.
Rainwater performed and toured throughout the rest of the 1950s. In 1959, he added three more gold records: "My Love Is Real", "My Brand Of Blues" and "Half Breed" (A cover version of a John D. Loudermilk song,) all sold in excess of one million records. In 1959, Rainwater recorded another Loudermilk song, "The Pale Faced Indian". His original version went unnoticed, but later efforts by Don Fardon and Paul Revere & The Raiders under the title "Indian Reservation" were hits. Marvin recorded a number of songs with his little sister Patty Rainwater who was almost 12 years his junior. They recorded songs like "Down In The Cellar" as well as some of Patty's compositions like "Because I'm A Dreamer" and "Two Fools In Love".
His voice began to give out, and he developed calluses on his vocal cords. As a result, Rainwater and MGM Records parted ways in 1960. He went into brief retirement to rest his voice and then recorded sporadically for Warwick Records (United Kingdom), although without any hits. In the 1960s, he recorded for a series of record labels including United Artists, Warner Bros. and Sonet; and started his own record company called Brave Records.
In the 1970s, Rainwater developed throat cancer, from which he slowly recovered, and moved to Aitkin, Minnesota. He appeared occasionally at rockabilly festivals in Europe and was still loved by many fans.
Rainwater was the 73rd inductee into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.
He died of heart failure on September 17, 2013, in Minneapolis. Marvin had five children. Jimmy and Judi by his first wife Charline; Wade, Lora Lee and Barbie by his second wife Barbara.
Rainwater's song "Gamblin' Man" was covered by Mike Ness on his 1999 album, Under the Influences. "So You Think You've Got Troubles" was covered by Harry Nilsson, as evidenced on his 1966 Spotlight on Nilsson compilation album. "Gonna Find Me a Bluebird" was covered by Petula Clark in 1957 and by Steve Young on his 1969 album, Rock Salt & Nails. "Hot and Cold" was featured on Bob Dylan's radio show, Theme Time Radio Hour.
Albino Stallion
Marvin Rainwater Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
who by some strange chance was free.
That albino pink eyed stallion, born to the Devil in a lake of fire
Bred with an introvert desire and
His eyes at night are ablaze
With a burning fire...
You drunks and gamblers laugh at me
You sweat for gold and spend it free
With eyes too blind to see.
You have no hopes, you have no gold, you have no dreams to ease your soul. And yet you laugh at me.
That albino pink-eyed stallion. Born to the Devil in a lake of fire
Bred with an introvert desire and
His eyes at night are ablaze
With a burning fire...
Without a gold, no man is whole. Without a dream there is no soul and stagnant he will be. I'll sleep by day, I'll search by night, I'll not renounce my fight 'til he belongs to me.
That albino pink-eyed stallion. Born to the Devil in a lake of fire
Bred with an introvert desire and
His eyes at night are ablaze
With a burning fire...
The lyrics of Marvin Rainwater's "Albino Stallion" tell a gripping story of a horse, believed to be the champion of a lawless breed, that was born to the Devil in a lake of fire. The song is set in Arizona's desert where the legend of the striking animal is widely known. The singer's awe of the horse is evident as he describes its features, the most prominent of which is its pink eyes that blaze with a burning fire at night. Despite the Devil's attachment to the horse, it is free-spirited, and the singer tells the story of how he heard the Devil call out for his wayward steed at night, which left him cold.
Line by Line Meaning
In Arizona's desert lores a legend goes about a horse the champion of a lawless breed the favored one, the Devil's steed
There's a story in Arizona's desert about a horse who was the best among a group of lawless horses, he was the Devil's horse.
who by some strange chance was free.
This horse, for some unknown reason, was free to roam.
That albino pink eyed stallion, born to the Devil in a lake of fire
This legendary horse was an albino with pink eyes who was believed to be born to the Devil in a lake of fire.
Bred with an introvert desire and
This horse was bred with a desire to be alone.
His eyes at night are ablaze
This horse's eyes are lit up at night.
With a burning fire...
They seem to be burning with a passion.
At night in the canyon all alone I've heard the Devil call his own, and it made my blood stream freeze.
Late at night in the canyon, I heard the Devil call out to this horse and it gave me a chilling feeling.
But pleading for his wayward steed is all in vain, vain indeed, for free he aims to be.
Trying to get this horse to obey is pointless, he is determined to be free.
You drunks and gamblers laugh at me
People who are drunk and gambling are laughing at me.
You sweat for gold and spend it free
They work hard for money but easily spend it.
With eyes too blind to see.
They're too oblivious to notice what's really happening.
You have no hopes, you have no gold, you have no dreams to ease your soul. And yet you laugh at me.
They have nothing to look forward to, yet still find time to laugh at my dream of capturing this horse.
Without a gold, no man is whole. Without a dream there is no soul and stagnant he will be.
If a person has no ambition or dream, they'll be empty and unfulfilled.
I'll sleep by day, I'll search by night, I'll not renounce my fight 'til he belongs to me.
I won't give up my battle to capture this horse, I'll search for him day and night till I succeed.
That albino pink-eyed stallion. Born to the Devil in a lake of fire Bred with an introvert desire and His eyes at night are ablaze With a burning fire...
The chorus repeats, describing this legendary horse's unique appearance and characteristics.
Contributed by William Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@roxannemoreno2012
Thank you so much for uploading this song!! My dad used to play this on his guitar and it was my favorite song from him. I never knew who sang it originally. It brings back such amazing memories. Lost Dad almost 4 years ago. Now I can listen to this song and smile.
@hennihabeck8502
I Always Liked the music. He was so versitile
@drharmonica
The fringe on his shirt sleeves is getting in to his guitar strings.
@youtubesucks8995
Actually I watched it, and they don’t. He’s strumming old style anyway. Most modern guitarists would probably have a problem though.
@onebajeepguy9709
I love this channel, but i dont like the outtro. When i try to listen at work people ask why we have a crop duster dive bombing us between every song
@izziiebabee
@When The Cowboy Sings Can you repupload this without the outro its my favourite song please
@johnpenney5333
Terrible stuff.
@monsterjamgeneral
why’s that john
@youtubesucks8995
Have we spotted a jazzbo? 😄Sorry he didn’t play every single note on his guitar in under a minute, but I prefer music, not a demonstration.