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.

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.

Such a great story teller in his songs. Big Iron one of my favorites along with White Sport coat.

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.

Love the mariachi trumpet in this version ❤

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

I love all the little guitar fills and runs on the studio version. Grady Martin, I believe. A great song.

He was a Nascar driver too.

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.

Great song, wonderful performance, and, as usual, insightful reaction. Thanks, MLB.

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.

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.

So descriptive you can watch the movie in your mind as they sing the song.

Marty had such a beautiful voice. Everything that he sings is great!

I use to love to listen to this song. It was like someone reading to me.

One of my all time favorite singers he has a beautiful voice

My favorite by Marty Robbins is "Big Iron" I hope you will react to that one too one day!

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

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.

My Mothers favorite singer. Great story.

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 ❤

He was just a genius.....also a writer and a poet.

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!

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.

I love Marty

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 is my favorite

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

Marty Robbins is great. I like his song “big iron”

This is my all time favorite country song. I'm glad to see you reacted to this!

Another one of his gunfighter ballads is called Big Iron. That’s a great song to.

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 ❤

I was about three years old when my mother took me to this concert

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.

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

Listen to the original studio version to get the full effect of his voice. Also try Devil Woman.

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.

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".

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.

My absolute favorite Marty Robins son Is Mr Shorty. Being a vertical challenged individual, you should definitely give it a listen.

There is a trilogy to this Feleena and El Paso City, also Big Iron is a must. Thanks for great reactions.

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.

I got the very privileged to meet last of pancho villa wife ,in mid 70s for me history ,loved it

El Paso + El Paso City + Feleena. Song trilogy by Marty Robbins. They all go and tie in to each other.

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

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

What about Marty Robins voice and the way he sung the song?

I have been a fan since the 70s

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.

Marty Robbins out the western in country and western music.

I always liked Marty Robbins. My mom and dad played his albums when i was kid. Loved your reaction.

One of the greatest songs ever written

If you think this is fascinating, the other two in the trilogy offer so many twists and turns. It will blow your mind

This song always brings tears to my eyes. The guitar playing is underated too I think.

Marty was one of the best, I put him right there with Hank Williams and Johnny Cash

Marty is a country music legend. This particular story is told in 3 parts. Another one you should react to is Big Iron.

Marty robbins the masters call next!

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

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.

Marty Robbins- My woman, my woman, my wife. Great song. You'll get the feelings just by listen to his voice.

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

Marty Robbins- Big Iron or Mr. Shorty great songs

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!

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!

He has another great story song, "Big Iron".

You need to listen to the whole trilogy to find out how Feleena really feels.! Feleena is next and then El Paso City!

Definitely do “Faleena” next. It’s from her side of the tale and fills the storyline quite nicely.

Now on to Feleena the second part , then El Paso City the third part of this story.

Not only was he a good singer he also raced in Nascar back in the day

One of my favorites since I was a kid.

The band Old 97s does a cover of this song to the theme music from King of the Hill and it’s excellent

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”

Big Iron and the masters call are really good

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

"Down went his hand for the gun that he wore", sounds to me like the "Handsome young stranger:" drew first. :)

This is a trilogy, listen to the second installment, it's called Falena, from her prospective

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

Listen to the song feleena by Marty Robbins it tells the rest of the story from El Paso.

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

Cool Water is likely his next best song. Then Pink Carnation, and Come a Little Bit Closer.

Reminds me of the Breaking Bad finale now. Felina.

If you're a fan of history, you have to check out Ballad of the Alamo by him as well.

The style of music is called western music. Alittle different than country music.

If you like this song, your will love "Come A Little Bit Closer" by Jay and the Americans

not sure if youve done it yet but you should do "they're hanging me tonight" by Marty Robbins next

If you have committed murder, stealing a horse to escape may not be a moral impediment. LOL. Glad you did this.

You should react to Kenny Rogers “Coward of the county” it’s some good country storytelling.

I think it's hard to forget a guy who shot someone over you. Modern day, it's not likely to be something you find flattering, but maybe she was one of those girls who likes to stoke trouble. Maybe the fact that he was willing to fight for her is what drew her to him at the end? In any case, Marty Robbins is a fantastic Western singer, you totally should track down the rest of his music and give it a listen. Big Iron is another ballad of his which you might enjoy if you like the western ballad genre. The Cowboy in the Continental Suit is another one I quite enjoy, and he's one of my favourite versions of Ghost Riders in the Sky (the other being Burl Ives).

I found a good one, it looked like it could run.

This puts the Western in Country Western.

Four-and-a-half minutes of straight narrative. No chorus. Remarkable!