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| Biography Below -Scroll Down Page 1 "El Paso," Marty Robbins Songwriter: Marty Robbins Year Charted: 1959 Highest Billboard Chart Position: No. 1 In the late Fifties, Marty Robbins (1925-1982) topped off a successful career with a No. 1 pop and country hit, "A White Sport Coat (and a Pink Carnation)," while also playing bit parts in Westerns. The experience moved his songwriting toward Old West myths and legends (inspired in part by "Texas" Bob Heckle, his cowboy grandfather), as he penned the theme for Gary Cooper's The Hanging Tree. "El Paso" shot up the charts, stayed at the top spot for seven weeks and on the charts for six months, and went platinum in the mid-Sixties. Despite its obvious appeal, Columbia A&R head Mitch Miller rejected the story-song as long at four minutes and too wordy. Robbins countered by citing Johnny Horton's "The Battle of New Orleans" as an example of a mold-breaking hit. Columbia relented, releasing a radio edit for deejays, who rejected it for the full version, vindicating Robbins. Romantic, tragic, elegiac, "El Paso" won a Grammy and became Marty Robbins' signature tune, forever a part of American music. |
| annotated by Margaret Moser |
| Verse 1
Out in the West Texas town of El Paso I fell in love with a Mexican girl Nighttime would find me in Rosa's cantina Music would play and Felina would whirl Blacker than night were the eyes of Felina Wicked and evil while casting a spell My love was deep for this Mexican maiden I was in love, but in vain I could tell One night a wild young cowboy came in Wild as the West Texas wind Dashing and daring, a drink he was sharing With wicked Felina, the girl that I loved So in anger I challenged his right for the love of this maiden Down went his hand for the gun that he wore My challenge was answered in less than a heartbeat The handsome young stranger lay dead on the floor Just for a moment I stood there In silence Shocked by the foul evil deed I had done Many thoughts raced through my mind as I stood there I had but one chance and that was to run Out through the back door of Rosa's I ran Out where the horses were tied I caught a good one, it looked like it could run Up on its back and away I did ride Just as fast as I could from the West Texas town of El Paso Out to the badlands of New Mexico Back in El Paso my life would be worthless Everything's gone; in life nothing is left It's been so long since I've seen the young maiden My love is stronger than my fear of death I saddled up and away I did go Riding alone in the dark Maybe tomorrow a bullet will find me Tonight nothing's worse than this pain in my heart And at last here I am on the hill overlooking El Paso I can see Rosa's Cantina below My love is strong and it pushes me onward Down off the hill to Felina I go |
| Verse 2 Off to my right I see five mounted cowboys Off to my left ride a dozen or more Shouting and shooting, I can't let them catch me I have to make it to Rosa's back door Something is dreadfully wrong, for I feel A deep burning pain in my side Though I am trying to stay in the saddle I'm getting weary, unable to ride But my love for Felina is strong and I rise where I've fallen Though I am weary, I can't stop to rest I see the white puff of smoke from the rifle I feel the bullet go deep in my chest From out of nowhere Felina has found me Kissing my cheek as she kneels by my side Cradled by two loving arms that I'll die for One little kiss, then Felina good-bye |
| Biography
Marty was born Martin David Robinson on September 26, 1925, near Glendale, Arizona. Marty grew up listening to stories his grandfather, Texas Bob Heckle, an ex-Texas Ranger and medicine show performer, would tell of the Old West. Marty grew up in a less-than-perfect environment. His father did odd jobs to support the family of eleven (Marty had nine siblings). His father drank and was sometimes abusive to his children. Marty's parents divorced in 1937. For a while, Marty was a rebel against everything. He then joined the Navy at age 17 and fought during World War II in the Solomon Islands. There, he learned to play guitar and wrote his first songs. Marty was discharged from service in 1945. He returned to Arizona and played guitar for a local singer. He then went into a radio station (KTYL) where he heard a mediocre singer broadcast. Marty sang for the station and they fired the other singer! Because his mother disapproved of his performing, he briefly worked under the name "Jack Robinson". In 1948, Marty married Marizona Baldwin. They eventually had two children (Ronnie and Janet). Marty was signed to Columbia records on May 25, 1951. Marty recorded many albums for Columbia and (for a brief time before returning to Columbia) MCA. In his 31 years of recording, he was almost never off the country music charts Marty always seemed to be a likeable and straight forward man who left this planet too soon.... His talent and music live on but he will be missed.... |
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| This song crossed over into the SIXTIES... 1959 - 1960 |