This is the first of a trilogy that tells the whole story; the next is Feleena, and then El Paso City. You should check them out for the bigger picture. Having said that . . . I was about 6 years old when this came out. My Daddy had gone to Mexico on a business trip, and brought me back some moccasins, a little turquoise bracelet, and what was called a "squaw dress" . . . lots of ruffles on the skirt, gold rickrack trim and short puffy sleeves. Well, this song was my FIRST encounter with true romance, I had the outfit, and was ready if Marty ever made it to Amarillo, Texas!!! I ve swooned over him ever since.
Never knew about the sequel, but... wow.. MrBoyd definitely should check out at least the first, for rounding out the story. Thanks for the info about it existing.
I grew up in El Paso. I remember, so well, when this song hit the radio. OMG. @MRLBOYD MUSIC By all means please listen to the other two. As we say in Texas; y'all be safe.
Marty Robbins (real name Martin Robinson) was my dad’s best friend growing up in Glendale, Arizona in the 1930s; in fact, they joined the Navy together in 1941, got separated after basic training in San Diego, CA. They had a reunion in the mid-sixties in Phoenix. Best buds …
The next song in the trilogy is called "Faleena" and the story is from her perspective. Marty uses brilliant poetry to give you insights to her character, personality, and who she actually was.
I still have Marty Robbins Gunfighter Ballads album, and every song on it is so good. Big Iron is probably the most famous one, but They're Hanging Me Tonight is my favorite. It's a little dark and sad. But all of them are beautifully told stories.
Marty Robbin’s and Merle Haggard were best friends. Ride or die. There are so many great videos of the two of them. Singing, doing impressions of other singers and just being hysterical. Just thought I’d mention that.
This is the genius of Marty Robbins. He didn't need a music video to accompany his singing. You can see the entire scene in your mind and feel it in your heart! Beautiful!! And yes, the horse theft was worse than the murder back in those days.
Marty Robbins was a great singer songwriter. His songs are stories, and his voice is just right. He did non country stuff, too. A White Sport Coat, or My Woman My Woman My Wife. His Gunfighter Ballads album is so good, too
Youngest of 10 children, had no choice but to listen to Marty Robbins in the 60’s and 70’s. to this day I still believe he is bar far the greatest ballad singer of all time. No screaming no reaching just beautiful relaxing notes. RIP Mr Robbins just letting, 60 years later you still bring me musical joy.
Liked your reaction. This song was the first #1 song on the Billboard Hot 100 in the 1960's. Marty Robbins was undoubtedly one of the greatest singer/songwriters of the 20th century. He could sing any genre and was highly regarded by his peers; there are literally dozens of great songs and performances in his catalogue.
I'm 75 years old and Marty Robbins was my favorite singer growing up ... I liked him even before he went Country His song "A white Sportcoat And Devil Woman were some of my pre Country favorites. But his Country song Big Iron and the Hanging Tree are awesome Country Hits ... His album Gunfighter Ballads was my all time favorite album!
His voice is purely beautiful. You should play My Woman My Woman my Wife and This Time You Gave Me a Mountain…..purely beautiful songs as only Marty could sing them.
Mr. MARTY ROBBINS. IMO one of the sexiest voices in Country Music along with Conway Twitty. Ask any woman who grew up with these two singers. And it didn't matter how old you were. I became a teenager in the 70's(Marty was in his 50's)& l loved Marty & Conway. Still do to this day.
You have discovered the “Western” in “Country and Western.” Marty Robbins sang a wide variety of songs, but is best known for his gunfighter ballads and trail songs (even had a couple of albums by that name). In this story, I always wish the storyteller had simply stayed in the cantina and explained that the dashing young cowboy was the first to reach for a gun, so he had no choice but to draw and shoot in self defense. But I guess we wouldn’t have had this epic tale of ill-fated love that has endured as a classic for so long. Like others, I recommend listening to “Feleena” and then “El Paso City,” which expound on the legend.
Oh man! I remember this and the rest of the trilogy as staples on the juke boxes in the local bars when I was a kid. Definitely contributed to my future tastes in music.
Actually, he panicked after killing the Wild cowboy, if he would have stayed he would probably not have been in a lot of trouble as the Wild Cowboy drew on him first, so it was self defense. That being the moment he stole that hoarse, his fate was sealed. You really need to check out Feleena's side of the story. The second part to this story is Feleena by Marty Robbins, and the third in the trilogy is Elpaso City
Remember, Feleena was a saloon girl, and it was her job to share drinks with patrons of the cantina. Also, the stranger drew first, so the hero was within his rights to defend himself. However, that probably didn't matter to the stranger's friends, which is why he had to book it out of there. Oh, and yes, stealing a horse could get you hanged very easily, which may be another reason why they were looking for him.
In his second song of the trilogy, titled feleena, tells the story from her p.o.v, she loved the el paso lead so much that she cashed in her living card with his pistol. Their voices can still be heard on the streets of el paso at the end of the song.
Marty Robbins had so many great songs. One of his most well known was THE BALLAD OF THE ALAMO Marty sang the song in the John Wayne movie, THE ALAMO. Another of the gunfighter ballads is BIG IROM also a big hit. Marty also had a huge crossover hit called A WHITE SPORTS COAT AND A PINK CARNATION.😊
Marty Robbins. Always reminds me of my grandpa. Its seemed marty was always playing on the 8 track in the barn while 'we' were working on the tractor, mower, etc. Love it.
Marty did a lot of these songs. This is the first of a trilogy. Check out his "Gunfighter Ballads" album or for a change he was also the artist who did "A White Sportcoat and a Pink Carnation" in the rock and roll genre.
Marty has so many good ones such a great story teller. Utah Carol, Devil Woman, Mr Shorty just sooooo so many great songs from Marty I’d love for someone to explore more from him
Every young kid in the early 60s remembers this cowboy story. My dad would play this on a hot summer night out on the porch, while enjoying a cold Beer. Those are such great childhood memories from over 60 years ago. Thanks
This was a big hit in 1958. Think it hit the Billboard top 10. At that time hits like these would cross over into the top 40 along with Elvis and instrumentals. Great time to be a teenager then.
Can this guy tell a Story or what? You got it, Faleena was a dancer in this Cantina. She liked him, but she liked everybody who would buy her a drink, that’s what she’s there for. As he progresses in his story I can actually see it happen. Rosa’s Cantina, the horses tied up out back, him sitting in the saddle as he is overlooking El Paso and the Cantina below. This was one of my Dad’s favorite songs and I grew up with it. Thanks for the memories!…. SanJoséBob
Yes, and if you want a song where another woman demonstrates the same behavior, look up 'Come a little bit closer' by Jay and the Americans. It seems that dancers in cantinas frequently have a fellow running for his life. lmao
Country and Western music was a craze in the 70s and 80s. People everywhere wore Western cloths and cowboy boots. Marty Robbins was one of my favorite. Especially when he grew a mustache which fit his persona.
The pizza shop and neighborhood I ran wild in as a young person was just off a little out of the way plaza named Marty Robbins plaza, so of course we eventually looked him up ❤
Marty was one of the truly great ones! I was listening to WSM radio when the announcer broke the news that he had died. Sad moment! They don't make 'em like Marty anymore!
At the time of release, circa 1960, this song had a couple of major things going against it. It was well over 4 minutes long and way longer than typical for airtime. It had no chorus and was a continuous flow, seemingly without any pause. They actually produced multiple versions in order to get some stations to play it but the full length (4:38) version was the overwhelming favorite and became the "classic".
Another country story with a twist that I find fascinating is "Long Black Veil" first done by Lefty Frizzel. The mores of people back then are kind of puzzling for the younger generations.
Yeah!! They didn't edit the lines!! This song is so long that radio stations only wanted to play the abbreviated version. The original 45 went all the way to the label
In the old west stealing a horse or cattle was not simply a hanging offense. You could also be lynched or shot on sight if it was believed that you had committed such a crime.
When Marty Robbins wrote this song, that part where the main character was chased and shot at, was because he was a horse thief riding a stolen horse not because he shot a man in a fair fight. This is according to an interview that Ralph Emmory did with Marty
Everyone misses the fact that the guy was a horse thief. Proof of the duel is easy to find. But being a horse thief, that's a whole different thing. Horses were the life to many in the "old west." Taking someone's horse is almost like murdering someone. It was always punished with death.
Murder and cattlerobbing were punishable by death. And stealing horses was stealing cattle. Hence the death penalty. So our guy committed two crimes punishable by death in one night and then ran. By the time he came back he definitely had a bounty on his head.
This is the first of a trilogy that tells the whole story; the next is Feleena, and then El Paso City. You should check them out for the bigger picture. Having said that . . . I was about 6 years old when this came out. My Daddy had gone to Mexico on a business trip, and brought me back some moccasins, a little turquoise bracelet, and what was called a "squaw dress" . . . lots of ruffles on the skirt, gold rickrack trim and short puffy sleeves. Well, this song was my FIRST encounter with true romance, I had the outfit, and was ready if Marty ever made it to Amarillo, Texas!!! I ve swooned over him ever since.
Never knew about the sequel, but... wow.. MrBoyd definitely should check out at least the first, for rounding out the story. Thanks for the info about it existing.
I grew up in El Paso. I remember, so well, when this song hit the radio. OMG.
@MRLBOYD MUSIC By all means please listen to the other two.
As we say in Texas; y'all be safe.
I really liked this story/song too! I was a kid when this was popular. I'm 70 now.
I grew up listening to Marty Robbins on some old records my parents had. I could sing every song along with the record.
Please react
Marty Robbins (real name Martin Robinson) was my dad’s best friend growing up in Glendale, Arizona in the 1930s; in fact, they joined the Navy together in 1941, got separated after basic training in San Diego, CA. They had a reunion in the mid-sixties in Phoenix. Best buds …
The next song in the trilogy is called "Faleena" and the story is from her perspective. Marty uses brilliant poetry to give you insights to her character, personality, and who she actually was.
Another excellent old west story by Marty is the song "Big Iron" about an AZ. Ranger after the outlaw named Texas Red.
Many men had tried to take him and that many men were dead. I love Big Iron. Damn fine story song.
I still have Marty Robbins Gunfighter Ballads album, and every song on it is so good. Big Iron is probably the most famous one, but They're Hanging Me Tonight is my favorite. It's a little dark and sad.
But all of them are beautifully told stories.
"Big Iron may be the best known but my fave is "Mr. Shorty".
I love that whole album. We grew up on it. I played Big Iron a lot when my kids were young and one of my girls named her cats Arizona Ranger and Fria
Such a great story teller in his songs. Big Iron one of my favorites along with White Sport coat.
Marty Robbin’s and Merle Haggard were best friends. Ride or die. There are so many great videos of the two of them. Singing, doing impressions of other singers and just being hysterical. Just thought I’d mention that.
This is the genius of Marty Robbins. He didn't need a music video to accompany his singing. You can see the entire scene in your mind and feel it in your heart! Beautiful!! And yes, the horse theft was worse than the murder back in those days.
Love the mariachi trumpet in this version ❤
Marty Robbins was a great singer songwriter. His songs are stories, and his voice is just right. He did non country stuff, too. A White Sport Coat, or My Woman My Woman My Wife. His Gunfighter Ballads album is so good, too
Youngest of 10 children, had no choice but to listen to Marty Robbins in the 60’s and 70’s. to this day I still believe he is bar far the greatest ballad singer of all time. No screaming no reaching just beautiful relaxing notes. RIP Mr Robbins just letting, 60 years later you still bring me musical joy.
Liked your reaction. This song was the first #1 song on the Billboard Hot 100 in the 1960's.
Marty Robbins was undoubtedly one of the greatest singer/songwriters of the 20th century. He could sing any genre and was highly regarded by his peers; there are literally dozens of great songs and performances in his catalogue.
I'm 75 years old and Marty Robbins was my favorite singer growing up ... I liked him even before he went Country His song
"A white Sportcoat And Devil Woman were some of my pre Country favorites.
But his Country song Big Iron and the Hanging Tree are awesome Country Hits ... His album Gunfighter Ballads was my all time favorite album!
His voice is purely beautiful. You should play My Woman My Woman my Wife and This Time You Gave Me a Mountain…..purely beautiful songs as only Marty could sing them.
Mr. MARTY ROBBINS. IMO one of the sexiest voices in Country Music along with Conway Twitty. Ask any woman who grew up with these two singers. And it didn't matter how old you were. I became a teenager in the 70's(Marty was in his 50's)& l loved Marty & Conway. Still do to this day.
You have discovered the “Western” in “Country and Western.” Marty Robbins sang a wide variety of songs, but is best known for his gunfighter ballads and trail songs (even had a couple of albums by that name).
In this story, I always wish the storyteller had simply stayed in the cantina and explained that the dashing young cowboy was the first to reach for a gun, so he had no choice but to draw and shoot in self defense. But I guess we wouldn’t have had this epic tale of ill-fated love that has endured as a classic for so long.
Like others, I recommend listening to “Feleena” and then “El Paso City,” which expound on the legend.
Marty had such a beautiful voice. Everything that he sings is great!
Oh man! I remember this and the rest of the trilogy as staples on the juke boxes in the local bars when I was a kid. Definitely contributed to my future tastes in music.
I love all the little guitar fills and runs on the studio version. Grady Martin, I believe. A great song.
Actually, he panicked after killing the Wild cowboy, if he would have stayed he would probably not have been in a lot of trouble as the Wild Cowboy drew on him first, so it was self defense. That being the moment he stole that hoarse, his fate was sealed. You really need to check out Feleena's side of the story. The second part to this story is Feleena by Marty Robbins, and the third in the trilogy is Elpaso City
Remember, Feleena was a saloon girl, and it was her job to share drinks with patrons of the cantina. Also, the stranger drew first, so the hero was within his rights to defend himself. However, that probably didn't matter to the stranger's friends, which is why he had to book it out of there. Oh, and yes, stealing a horse could get you hanged very easily, which may be another reason why they were looking for him.
So descriptive you can watch the movie in your mind as they sing the song.
He was a Nascar driver too.
He was just a genius.....also a writer and a poet.
Great song, wonderful performance, and, as usual, insightful reaction. Thanks, MLB.
One of my all time favorite singers he has a beautiful voice
This is my all time favorite country song. I'm glad to see you reacted to this!
I use to love to listen to this song. It was like someone reading to me.
Classic Country. One of my Dad's favorites, I heard it many times growing up. Thank you, it reminded me of him.
Keep on keepin' on , man!
In his second song of the trilogy, titled feleena, tells the story from her p.o.v, she loved the el paso lead so much that she cashed in her living card with his pistol. Their voices can still be heard on the streets of el paso at the end of the song.
Marty Robbins had so many great songs. One of his most well known was THE BALLAD OF THE ALAMO Marty sang the song in the John Wayne movie, THE ALAMO. Another of the gunfighter ballads is BIG IROM also a big hit. Marty also had a huge crossover hit called A WHITE SPORTS COAT AND A PINK CARNATION.😊
Marty Robbins is great. I like his song “big iron”
My Mothers favorite singer.
Great story.
Marty Robbins.
Always reminds me of my grandpa. Its seemed marty was always playing on the 8 track in the barn while 'we' were working on the tractor, mower, etc.
Love it.
Marty did a lot of these songs. This is the first of a trilogy. Check out his "Gunfighter Ballads" album or for a change he was also the artist who did "A White Sportcoat and a Pink Carnation" in the rock and roll genre.
I love Marty
I absolutely love Marty Robbins. When I was a little girl, my Mama had this album and I would listen to it over and over ❤
Marty has so many good ones such a great story teller. Utah Carol, Devil Woman, Mr Shorty just sooooo so many great songs from Marty I’d love for someone to explore more from him
My favorite by Marty Robbins is "Big Iron" I hope you will react to that one too one day!
Every young kid in the early 60s remembers this cowboy story. My dad would play this on a hot summer night out on the porch, while enjoying a cold Beer. Those are such great childhood memories from over 60 years ago.
Thanks
This was a big hit in 1958. Think it hit the Billboard top 10. At that time hits like these would cross over into the top 40 along with Elvis and instrumentals. Great time to be a teenager then.
There is a trilogy to this Feleena and El Paso City, also Big Iron is a must. Thanks for great reactions.
Can this guy tell a Story or what? You got it, Faleena was a dancer in this Cantina. She liked him, but she liked everybody who would buy her a drink, that’s what she’s there for. As he progresses in his story I can actually see it happen. Rosa’s Cantina, the horses tied up out back, him sitting in the saddle as he is overlooking El Paso and the Cantina below. This was one of my Dad’s favorite songs and I grew up with it. Thanks for the memories!…. SanJoséBob
Yes, and if you want a song where another woman demonstrates the same behavior, look up 'Come a little bit closer' by Jay and the Americans.
It seems that dancers in cantinas frequently have a fellow running for his life. lmao
Country and Western music was a craze in the 70s and 80s. People everywhere wore Western cloths and cowboy boots. Marty Robbins was one of my favorite. Especially when he grew a mustache which fit his persona.
Marty is my favorite
The pizza shop and neighborhood I ran wild in as a young person was just off a little out of the way plaza named Marty Robbins plaza, so of course we eventually looked him up ❤
I was about three years old when my mother took me to this concert
Definitely do “Faleena” next. It’s from her side of the tale and fills the storyline quite nicely.
If you think this is fascinating, the other two in the trilogy offer so many twists and turns. It will blow your mind
This was my brother's favorite song when we were kids. It's grown on me as I've gotten older. It makes teary eyed every time I hear it.
I have been a fan since the 70s
Marty is a country music legend. This particular story is told in 3 parts. Another one you should react to is Big Iron.
One of the greatest songs ever written
Marty robbins the masters call next!
I always liked Marty Robbins. My mom and dad played his albums when i was kid. Loved your reaction.
This song always brings tears to my eyes. The guitar playing is underated too I think.
Another one of his gunfighter ballads is called Big Iron. That’s a great song to.
I got the very privileged to meet last of pancho villa wife ,in mid 70s for me history ,loved it
Marty Robbins- My woman, my woman, my wife. Great song. You'll get the feelings just by listen to his voice.
El Paso + El Paso City + Feleena.
Song trilogy by Marty Robbins.
They all go and tie in to each other.
My absolute favorite Marty Robins son Is Mr Shorty.
Being a vertical challenged individual, you should definitely give it a listen.
My friend in the interest of the Wild West love till death, Willie Nelson and Ray Charles duo 7 Spanish Angels is wonderful song from unlikely duo.
Marty was one of the truly great ones! I was listening to WSM radio when the announcer broke the news that he had died. Sad moment! They don't make 'em like Marty anymore!
you pretty much got it. If you really want the full story, listen to parts 2 and 3. best of times to you and those you love
Absolutely, great song. And it's a trilogy, you gotta listen to the other two. The next one is feleena, and the last 1 is El Paso city
Marty Robbins- Big Iron or Mr. Shorty great songs
One of my favorites since I was a kid.
Marty was one of the best, I put him right there with Hank Williams and Johnny Cash
Listen to the original studio version to get the full effect of his voice.
Also try Devil Woman.
At the time of release, circa 1960, this song had a couple of major things going against it. It was well over 4 minutes long and way longer than typical for airtime. It had no chorus and was a continuous flow, seemingly without any pause. They actually produced multiple versions in order to get some stations to play it but the full length (4:38) version was the overwhelming favorite and became the "classic".
Marty Robbins out the western in country and western music.
What about Marty Robins voice and the way he sung the song?
If you have committed murder, stealing a horse to escape may not be a moral impediment. LOL. Glad you did this.
Not only was he a good singer he also raced in Nascar back in the day
Reminds me of the Breaking Bad finale now. Felina.
You need to listen to the whole trilogy to find out how Feleena really feels.! Feleena is next and then El Paso City!
The band Old 97s does a cover of this song to the theme music from King of the Hill and it’s excellent
Another country story with a twist that I find fascinating is "Long Black Veil" first done by Lefty Frizzel. The mores of people back then are kind of puzzling for the younger generations.
The song is a part of a trilogy! 3 songs all relating to the same story! If you lived that watch “Feleena” by Marty robins it’s the part 2 of 3!
This song is the first of a trilogy. The second song is “Faleena” the third is “El Paso City”. Also listen to his song “Big Iron”
"Down went his hand for the gun that he wore", sounds to me like the "Handsome young stranger:" drew first. :)
Yeah!! They didn't edit the lines!! This song is so long that radio stations only wanted to play the abbreviated version. The original 45 went all the way to the label
He has another great story song, "Big Iron".
The style of music is called western music. Alittle different than country music.
A white sport coat and a pink carnation/its all over now-love me. The list of hits is long and all worth hearing.. 👍 til the next time.. dan-6/15/23
You need to react to Felena. It answers some of your questions. He actually did an El Paso trilogy: El Paso, Felena, and El Paso City
Now on to Feleena the second part , then El Paso City the third part of this story.
Four-and-a-half minutes of straight narrative. No chorus. Remarkable!
Big Iron and the masters call are really good
This puts the Western in Country Western.
This is a trilogy, listen to the second installment, it's called Falena, from her prospective
Cool Water is likely his next best song. Then Pink Carnation, and Come a Little Bit Closer.
Listen to the song feleena by Marty Robbins it tells the rest of the story from El Paso.
In the old west stealing a horse or cattle was not simply a hanging offense. You could also be lynched or shot on sight if it was believed that you had committed such a crime.
When Marty Robbins wrote this song, that part where the main character was chased and shot at, was because he was a horse thief riding a stolen horse not because he shot a man in a fair fight. This is according to an interview that Ralph Emmory did with Marty
Everyone misses the fact that the guy was a horse thief. Proof of the duel is easy to find. But being a horse thief, that's a whole different thing. Horses were the life to many in the "old west." Taking someone's horse is almost like murdering someone. It was always punished with death.
Murder and cattlerobbing were punishable by death. And stealing horses was stealing cattle. Hence the death penalty. So our guy committed two crimes punishable by death in one night and then ran. By the time he came back he definitely had a bounty on his head.
Duels weren't considered murder.
It was an exchange, he left his horse.. ♠W.G.
If you're a fan of history, you have to check out Ballad of the Alamo by him as well.
This is actually a part of a trilogy this is the first song does next song is Felena and the final song is Elpaso city