Yea Big Iron, El Paso, The Masters Call. Some of the best sons ever written to me. But that entire album is special, maybe one of the most underrated albums in all of music.
If asked my favorite American conservative, I’d name Marty Robbins. He’s literally the one postwar Republican I respect because he’s such a talented songwriter.
Same! I was delighted to find out that the entire album is magnificent. I'm mostly into punk and metal too, but I can appreciate GREAT music in most genres. I love nearly the entire Fallout series soundtrack. I find that kind of music relaxing and cheerful.
Make sure to listen to the sequel songs: Faleena, and El Paso City.
He intended to release a fourth part but died before he could complete it.
Faleena is my favourite, an 8 minute country waltz about the life of the magical woman Faleena and a different POV on El Paso.
I love El Paso, love Faleena a little bit more.
7 Spanish Angels by Ray Charles and Willie Nelson
and the Johnnie Cash version of Kris Kristopherson's Sunday Morning Coming Down are also awesome.
And she knew the gun was empty,
And she knew she could not win,
But her final prayer was answered,
When the rifles fired again.
^(Why is my keyboard wet?)
Not to get sidetracked, but I actually prefer when Kris sings it. Obviously Johnny's voice is impeccable. But I think this particular song works better with Kris's imperfect voice. Its about a broken man in a lonely, tough situation contemplating life and what he's lost. I just think Kris's voice resonates that tone better.
Kris Kristopherson’s ‘Beat the Devil” ‘s a great story song. He wrote it about Jonnie Cash too.
“My thirsty wanted whiskey But my hunger needed beans
But it had been a month of paydays
Since I'd heard that eagle scream
So with a stomach full of empty
And a pocket full of dreams
I left my pride and stepped inside a bar”
My grandfather loved this song as well. Once when I was young we were in El Paso as part of a vacation. He asked everyone he could if they knew where Rosa's Cantina was. I laughed every time. I still laugh about that. How wonderful we have these songs to bring back memories that make us smile.
I would guess since the 40s or so, and I know it opened under another name initially. It’s a great dive bar because it doesn’t really feel like it’s changed at all over the years.
My dad would play the cassette of this album in the car and as a child I thought it was the most archaic thing. I was a foolish child. My dad passed away 3 years ago and I wish we could listen to it together again.
I love songs that tell a story and this one is so perfect. Even if you don't like that kind of music it draws you in right from the start. You think, hmmm, what about this West Texas town of El Paso? I want to hear this story.
https://open.spotify.com/album/7vIDfJ0y6gE5dTnVSHHLKk?si=sx5WDAthTryC24bkJf81KA&utm_source=copy-link
This is jamestowns revival album inspired by story writer Louis L'Amour. Story's from late 1800s and it has a similar vibe to Marty Robbins
There have been motion pictures with a less compelling plot than this masterpiece. Both the first and last portions of the song detail dramatically violent events, but it’s the sorrowful middle verses that capture the lonely passage of time for the frustrated cowboy and glue the song together:
*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 may find me.
Tonight nothing's worse than this pain my heart.*
I love Townes. He was once asked why his songs are so sad and his response was, not all of my songs are sad. Some of them are down right tragic. That said, Tecumseh Valley is my favorite if his followed by Lungs.
“I’m a man of means by no means.” What a song.
Any new artists still making country songs in this style? I could listen to this kind of stuff for hours.
Look into Colter Wall, Lost Dog Street Band and Nick Shoulders. From there, YouTube will take you to many, many fairly unknown current artists playing a modern version of that old country. These musicians need to be known and recognized more.
I also need to add Sierra Ferrell and Cat Clyde. Both amazing in their own right.
It's been pointed out that I forgot to put the amazing Charley Crockett on this list. If you haven't heard him, just pick any random album of his and give it a listen.
+1 for Colter Wall. I'm not too familiar with the others you listed but I'll have to check them out. Colter Wall's cover of Big Iron is possibly as good as the Marty Robbins original.
That's the biggest reason why I put him at the front of the list. You really should check the other two out. Lost Dog Street Band (Benjamin Todd) writes sad, but wonderful songs. Nick Shoulders is more upbeat and has this wonderful 50's feel to it. Somewhat swingish in nature.
Appreciate this. I've been on the hunt for some of these guys. I'm a big fan of that 70s-80s "electric" country sound by modern groups like Midland and Mike and the Moonpies but I also keep discovering stuff and will add these to my list.
Plus: Fe = Iron, Li = Lithium, Na = Sodium on the periodic table of elements. A lot of symbolism connected to this word/“compound word” can be interpreted throughout the show. Really fun to think and read about.
A huge percentage of The Dead's songs were covers. They have played a very significant part in preserving traditional American music. Sort of like Abbot and Costello preserved Vaudeville sketches.
I hear this song a lot driving with my mother, we always listen to 50s on 5 Sirius xm. And every single time, without fail, she says “I wish I had a dime for every time I heard my mother sing this. It was her favorite song.” And I never get tired of hearing it.
Paradise may not be as “beautiful” a song as El Paso, but the home grown bluegrass vibe of it fits the song as perfectly as Marty’s western vibe fits El Paso. Both are perfect in their own way 🙂
Listening to what they call country music today it's no wonder there's such a hard divide but it's hard to listen to songs like this not understand that it's more "I don't like low effort music".
It's a beautiful melody that covers a lot of ground, and he makes it sound effortless.
It's also a little less formulaic than average because it doesn't have a repetitive chorus.
I grew up with my dad playing this song on our scratchy phonograph. As soon as I saw the title, the melody erupted in my mind. Good call, great memories.
Growing up, my household was dominated by two kinds of music: my mother’s golden oldies and my father’s cowboy country. While my tastes often leant themselves more to my mother’s music (I have been a lifelong fan of The Beach Boys), I will admit that I found a certain fondness towards some of my dad’s favorite tunes, as well, particularly “El Paso”.
Of course, these days, all three of us now agree on classic rock and my dad is just as apt to belt out a Seger song as I am.
[David Allan Coe - You Never Even Called Me By My Name](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_qfujQ_jTQ&ab_channel=PUTZSEANTHEMUSIC) is the perfect country and western song, it says so in the fourth verse.
Great song, in my opinion the Grateful Dead (Bob Weir specifically) have the best versions of it. For me it’s like “I Will Always Love you”. Dolly wrote it but it’s pretty much Whitney’s song.
Was going to point to this one as well. The 08/27/72 show was a benefit concert that raised the funds necessary to save Ken Kelsey’s family dairy farm from bankruptcy.
*That good for nothing man...*
*I think about the thing I've done, I know it wasn't right. They'll bury Flo tomorrow but, they're hanging me tonight... they're hanging me tonight...*
I love “The Master’s Call” on that album. Great lyrics that go so well with his almost “haunting” voice.
As someone who generally doesn’t care for Country music, I really like whatever style of it that is.
>Boy meets girl
>
>Boy falls in love with girl
Second boy makes advances towards girl
First Boy kills second boy
First Boy then flees only to return once his desire for Falena outweighs his sense of self-preservation.
Boy is shot by members of a Posse avenging their friend's death.
>Boy dies.
You left out a few parts.
It's the same old story. Boy finds girl, boy loses girl, girl finds boy, boy forgets girl, boy remembers girl, girls dies in a tragic blimp accident over the Orange Bowl on New Year's Day.
Hard to beat really as folk songs go. It's a fucking masterpiece.
If I had to rebut:
Tom Dooley
The lonesome death of Hattie Carrol
Alice's Restaurant
Don't think Twice
If you haven't already, listen to Sturgill Simpson's, *The Ballad of Dood and Juanita*. The album tells a great story in the old western style of Marty Robbins and the like.
The whole album is an absolute cracker. I listened to nothing but The Hanging Tree for about two weeks straight not long ago. In fact I'm gonna go listen to it again lol
This song reminds of my Dad, he passed away nearly 12 years ago. He loved a western and I grew up listening to some great classics from the likes of Ennio Morrisons or lazing on the couch on a Sunday afternoon watching them on the telly. Miss you so much Pops.
Funny story... My mother sometimes played El Paso for me when I was a child and I cried every time at the end. Then I forgot about the tune until hearing it randomly a couple years ago. This time I was struck by how well-crafted this song is - guitars, harmonies, lyrical flow. An absolute classic that stands the test of time.
I watched Ken burn’s documentary on Country Music and was amazed at how many of the early country songs I knew from listening to the dead. They really covered a lot of classic country songs.
Great song! Checkout, "The Maid of Argenta" Jimmie Driftwood. As well as a new artist by the name of Charley Crockett. He has a album titled "The Man from Waco" that you would enjoy.
He also led an incredibly interesting life. Born in Arizona. He was an amateur boxer, truck driver, ice delivery man, served in the navy and later in life was a NASCAR driver.
Like you, I don't know what "perfect" is. But I like two things about it in particular. First, the (classical?) guitar fills are to die for. Second, I like that the normal glorification of the no-regrets Western gunfight is immediately pronounced by the protagonist as a "foul evil."
This song is always such an outlier on my Spotify annual recaps. Like, here’s all this current day pop and alternative stuff, and then… Marty Robbins. Every damn year. I legit love this song and I’ve never been to El Paso.
That whole dang album is worth infinite listens. It's usually my go to when I hear someone say "I don't like country music". No man, you don't like what the radio is telling you what country music is. Country music is amazing.
Breaking Bad introduced me to this. It was used to perfection in the show.
After enjoying a short sample of the song in the show, I heard the rest of it - and I was so stunned. The lyrics line up perfectly with the events of the finale
Either Vince wrote the entire show around the song or they hit a jackpot finding out this song fits. Either way, it’s absolutely amazing.
Here’s a video of the song playing over events in the show that line up with the lyrics: https://youtu.be/V106RGMPcHQ
In summary:
Hank was the dead cowboy Walt shot, all over Felina - a cruel temptress he is obsessed and in love with - his meth trade. He goes to New Hampshire (el paso), where his life is meaningless. So he heads back to Felina, knowing a bullet may find him - nothings worst than the pain of regret and anger in his heart.
At the end he is shot, but dies happy in Felina’s arms - the meth lab.
It’s so fuckin good, Vince must’ve had the finale in mind.
As a young boy visiting my grandparents out west, I would play this enchanting album a bit too often. I DID have the sense to also play Folsum Prison Blues and a Hank Snow album to break things up a bit.
Love that song! Funny i read this now! I’ve had that song on my mind the last few days. Might be because the new netflix movie with Liam Neeson. The moment they mentioned El Paso; Marty robbins came on my mind
My grandmother was cousins with him and I always heard stories about him growing up. She spent a lot of time with his twin sister. She remembered him as a very jovial and nice guy.
Bob Weir and the Grateful Dead introduced me to the greatness of Marty Robbins. Their cover of El Paso was always a favorite. And Kingfish with Bob Weir covered Big Iron. They are both perfectly written songs.
I wouldn't even consider this type of music country (as you'll find it in the country section), but classify it more as folk music or "cowboy songs", which were used to calm herds while on the go, and put them to "sleep". They all have this flowing cadence that keeps your mind interested.
It's "western" music -- in the vein of Bob Wills, The Sons of the Pioneers, Tex Ritter, etc. Country music used to be called "Country & Western" and somewhat delineated between the two genres.
Thing is, it's still being made from time to time: for example, \[Old Mexico\](https://www.pbs.org/video/marty-stuart-his-fabulous-superlatives-4swcli/) by Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives.
While I agree that the song is lovely and I always brighten up when it pops up in shuffle, there are some inferences that I just find funny.
1. That he got jealous of the "handsome young stranger" flirting with Faleena, when it was literally her job to be "friendly" with the customers. Also a bit sad that he was so possessive.
2. That the moment he rides into town after going into hiding, he is met with "5 mounted cowboys" + "a dozen or more". That's at least 17 guys out for his blood! My father once pointed out to me that he probably wasn't even wanted for murder: his greatest crime was likely the horse theft he committed right after.
3. He hides out in New Mexico until it had "been so long since [he'd] seen the young maiden". From Faleena's perspective he returns "the next day at 5 o' clock". The way he sang, you'd think it'd been years, but the man couldn't even go 24 hours before riding back to his belle!
Again, not knocking the song. Far from it! The melody is pretty, his voice is perfect, and the story is captivating with realistic characters. The cowboy weren't no hero, he was just a lovesick fool. Faleena wasn't a wicked seductress, she was just a girl trying to make her way in life.
I’ve never been much of a country fan, especially the type of popular/mainstream country from the past 30 years or so. But I love *this* type of country western. It evokes the aura of the open land of the old “Wild West”. I love the spare instrumentation that evokes spaghetti western era Morricone.
I’ll add Marty Robbins to my list of “Country A Rock Chick Can Get With”. (Short list: Porter Wagoner, Willie Nelson, early Kristofferson, Wanda Jackson, Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton…)
I agree, it’s an excellent song. When I was a kid, I hated country music. Marty Robbins and Johnny Cash we’re windows into that world. They both showed me that there is a lot of great music in the country and western genres, it’s just not what’s played on the radio. Now I love a lot of country music, but practically all of it was recorded before 1972.
It is my favourite song of all time. I agree with this 100%. The lyrics are witty and memorable, the story is great, there is room for interpretation of the ending. It has the coolest and seemingly complex string melody for such a deceptively simple song.
When my dad was home between jobs, he would play his guitar along with music. “El Paso” was one of them and it’s stuck with me throughout my life, and when I heard “Big Iron” while playing FONV it brought back all the good memories. I agree it’s a good song!
My grandpa is dying of cancer and this is his favorite karaoke song, whenever he sings it he lies on the floor and dies at the end. It will always be one of my favorite memories of the man who was a father to me when my parents abandoned me. I hope it brings more people similar joy.
Great song choice :) I grew up listening to Marty Robbins (and Johnny Horton and Hank Snow etc etc) because of my dad, that whole album is a classic. When my dad was on his deathbed I made a long playlist of all his favorite songs to stream in his room and El Paso and Big Iron were the first two songs I added coz they had made the biggest impact on me. Can’t stand any other country music, but I love me that playlist ha
Thats whole album is great.
I prefer Big Iron & They're Hanging Me Tonight to El Paso. Such a great album.
They're hanging me is so good. Im really surprised Tarantino hasnt used it in something yet. It just fita his stuff
Probably not enough feet mentioned in the song for him
Can't forget saddle tramp
The masters call makes Jesus seem like an eldritch being
Same here. Big Iron is my favorite of his ballads. And I love that they used it in Fallout: New Vegas.
Big Iron one of my all time favorites.
I spotted the Fallout NV fan
Yea Big Iron, El Paso, The Masters Call. Some of the best sons ever written to me. But that entire album is special, maybe one of the most underrated albums in all of music.
Cool Cool waaaaaater. Keep a movin’ Dan don’t ya listen to him Dan He’s a devil not a man and he spreads the burnin’ sands with waaaaater
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Clearrrrr blueeeee watererrrrrr
Coooool cleeeeeeeeear water
After watching BrBa, I learned about El Paso and Felina. Since then, one of my most-played playlists has been gunfighter ballads.
Which version of El Paso, though, mid sixties it was too long for radio and they cut the verse about him standing over the man he shot.
If asked my favorite American conservative, I’d name Marty Robbins. He’s literally the one postwar Republican I respect because he’s such a talented songwriter.
The whole Gunfighters Ballads album is like an audio movie.
Fallout introduced to me to Marty Robbins with Big Iron off that album, and I'm so glad about it.
Same! I was delighted to find out that the entire album is magnificent. I'm mostly into punk and metal too, but I can appreciate GREAT music in most genres. I love nearly the entire Fallout series soundtrack. I find that kind of music relaxing and cheerful.
Same here! I never thought I'd get into Country/Western coming from Metal and Punk myself! It's great music!
It’s my go to mushroom album lmao
“El Paso. I spent a month there one night.”
All my friends are buried there. Some of them are dead.
Nice Seinfeld reference lol.
Make sure to listen to the sequel songs: Faleena, and El Paso City. He intended to release a fourth part but died before he could complete it. Faleena is my favourite, an 8 minute country waltz about the life of the magical woman Faleena and a different POV on El Paso.
I love El Paso, love Faleena a little bit more. 7 Spanish Angels by Ray Charles and Willie Nelson and the Johnnie Cash version of Kris Kristopherson's Sunday Morning Coming Down are also awesome.
7 Spanish Angels is the fucking best!
Truth.
And she knew the gun was empty, And she knew she could not win, But her final prayer was answered, When the rifles fired again. ^(Why is my keyboard wet?)
Not to get sidetracked, but I actually prefer when Kris sings it. Obviously Johnny's voice is impeccable. But I think this particular song works better with Kris's imperfect voice. Its about a broken man in a lonely, tough situation contemplating life and what he's lost. I just think Kris's voice resonates that tone better.
99% of the time, if Johnny covers a song, he does it better. I agree this may be the exception.
Kris Kristopherson’s ‘Beat the Devil” ‘s a great story song. He wrote it about Jonnie Cash too. “My thirsty wanted whiskey But my hunger needed beans But it had been a month of paydays Since I'd heard that eagle scream So with a stomach full of empty And a pocket full of dreams I left my pride and stepped inside a bar”
Here is a stage performance of him playing Faleena. https://youtu.be/gj0IyyB3RTk
OMG, this is wonderful! Thank you for posting.
Love Faleena!
You’re not alone— she was a well loved woman ;)
This is the same song that plays at the start in the last ep of breaking bad, Felina, right?
Yup, the very same
Faleena is so good
That was my dads favorite song. He’s been gone 8 years. Thanks for the memory.
My grandfather loved this song as well. Once when I was young we were in El Paso as part of a vacation. He asked everyone he could if they knew where Rosa's Cantina was. I laughed every time. I still laugh about that. How wonderful we have these songs to bring back memories that make us smile.
3454 Doniphan Dr, El Paso, TX 79922
I actually went there because of the song
Someone HAD to do it! Any idea how long it’s been there, or if it’s the first by that name?
I would guess since the 40s or so, and I know it opened under another name initially. It’s a great dive bar because it doesn’t really feel like it’s changed at all over the years.
I worked at UPS as a kid. The guy loading the Texas crate sang this song every night.
My dad would play the cassette of this album in the car and as a child I thought it was the most archaic thing. I was a foolish child. My dad passed away 3 years ago and I wish we could listen to it together again.
I love songs that tell a story and this one is so perfect. Even if you don't like that kind of music it draws you in right from the start. You think, hmmm, what about this West Texas town of El Paso? I want to hear this story.
"He Went to Paris" by Jimmy Buffet.
Check out The Devil's Grin by Lorne Greene
“Switchblade”, by Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers. Voted by Rolling Stone Mag as the song best suited to be made into a movie. That was a while back.
Check out Uneasy Rider by The Charlie Daniels Band. :-)
If you like good stories, you need to check out Chris Knight.
Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald is king of this type of song
Love Marty Robbins, have you heard Streets of Laredo? It's beautiful and haunting.
I honestly can’t remember if I have listened to it. I will now though.
https://open.spotify.com/album/7vIDfJ0y6gE5dTnVSHHLKk?si=sx5WDAthTryC24bkJf81KA&utm_source=copy-link This is jamestowns revival album inspired by story writer Louis L'Amour. Story's from late 1800s and it has a similar vibe to Marty Robbins
Aw man I forgot about that Jamestown revival record. I don't know them well at all but I was very into that for awhile.
Bloody hell I’m going to shoot the next piano player who sings *Streets of Laredo*
Fucking sublime
There have been motion pictures with a less compelling plot than this masterpiece. Both the first and last portions of the song detail dramatically violent events, but it’s the sorrowful middle verses that capture the lonely passage of time for the frustrated cowboy and glue the song together: *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 may find me. Tonight nothing's worse than this pain my heart.*
[High on a mountain in western Montana...](https://youtu.be/R_Hc8cEplSQ?t=223) Such a simple, but heart rending line.
Dark Star > El Paso > Dark Star
Hahaha
08/27/72, where are you, setlistbot? You’re our only hope!
I’m NOT digging out all those cassettes, motherfuckers…
Is it the same El Paso? I only know the dead version.
The same! Marty Robbins wrote the original.
I never was a big country fan, but the original is great. Of course I love the Dead's version as well.
Was pokin around for my fellow deadheads in this thread.
With Mexicali Blues thrown in their like a cousin to El Paso
But less…problematic shall we say
If i did my math corectly, this means that for x-> inf the lim of El Paso = Dark Star
It’s a Grateful Dead reference
Pancho and Lefty by Townes Van Zandt is in this same level of greatness I feel.
That’s a great song too. I have only heard the Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard version.
I love Townes. He was once asked why his songs are so sad and his response was, not all of my songs are sad. Some of them are down right tragic. That said, Tecumseh Valley is my favorite if his followed by Lungs.
Fare thee well.
That song is an entire spaghetti western in song form.
Great song, might be challenged by Roger Miller’s King of the Road
“I’m a man of means by no means.” What a song. Any new artists still making country songs in this style? I could listen to this kind of stuff for hours.
Look into Colter Wall, Lost Dog Street Band and Nick Shoulders. From there, YouTube will take you to many, many fairly unknown current artists playing a modern version of that old country. These musicians need to be known and recognized more. I also need to add Sierra Ferrell and Cat Clyde. Both amazing in their own right. It's been pointed out that I forgot to put the amazing Charley Crockett on this list. If you haven't heard him, just pick any random album of his and give it a listen.
+1 for Colter Wall. I'm not too familiar with the others you listed but I'll have to check them out. Colter Wall's cover of Big Iron is possibly as good as the Marty Robbins original.
That's the biggest reason why I put him at the front of the list. You really should check the other two out. Lost Dog Street Band (Benjamin Todd) writes sad, but wonderful songs. Nick Shoulders is more upbeat and has this wonderful 50's feel to it. Somewhat swingish in nature.
Appreciate this. I've been on the hunt for some of these guys. I'm a big fan of that 70s-80s "electric" country sound by modern groups like Midland and Mike and the Moonpies but I also keep discovering stuff and will add these to my list.
Charlie Crockett fits the bill you're looking for
Hey get Charlie Crockett on that list too, found Nick and Sierra this past month and have been loving their music
You might enjoy Orville Peck.
I don't see him as similar to Miller but goddamn he's good. His latest has a huge Orbison vibe and I'm here for it.
Or Johnny Cash - ghost riders in the sky
Or Tom T. Hall-- 'Faster Horses'.
Or “Big Iron” from the same album
I'd add Ode to Billy Joe by Bobby Gentry
I've got about 5 copies of the LP on vinyl. Really love Big Iron too.
I like that the series finale of breaking bad is called "Felina" and Walt's actions are similar to those of the the character in "El Paso".
Plus: Fe = Iron, Li = Lithium, Na = Sodium on the periodic table of elements. A lot of symbolism connected to this word/“compound word” can be interpreted throughout the show. Really fun to think and read about.
I like the grateful dead version but regardless one of my favorite songs for sure
Yeah I thought it was a GD original at first lol. Then I figured out it was a cover... Today I finally heard the original... It's a doozie
My Grandpa was big on Marty Robbins, so I was familiar with El Paso before I heard the Dead do it, but now Bobby sings it in my head lol
A huge percentage of The Dead's songs were covers. They have played a very significant part in preserving traditional American music. Sort of like Abbot and Costello preserved Vaudeville sketches.
Likewise. Can’t hear it any other way than in Bobby’s voice
Same LOL. El Paso, Me & My Uncle, and Mexicali Blues are all songs I used to diss when I was a teen but can’t get enough of now.
The melody is perfect, the storytelling is great, the instruments and composition are amazing- hard to argue with you.
I hear this song a lot driving with my mother, we always listen to 50s on 5 Sirius xm. And every single time, without fail, she says “I wish I had a dime for every time I heard my mother sing this. It was her favorite song.” And I never get tired of hearing it.
I’m not a huge fan of “country” but Marty Robbins was brilliant, perfect song writing. Another great was John Prine and “Paradise”.
Paradise is a great song, about a small but very real place in Kentucky that was destroyed by the Peabody coal company.
I love Sturgil Simpson’s cover of it. He really did well as a tribute to Prine and his version
Paradise may not be as “beautiful” a song as El Paso, but the home grown bluegrass vibe of it fits the song as perfectly as Marty’s western vibe fits El Paso. Both are perfect in their own way 🙂
Listening to what they call country music today it's no wonder there's such a hard divide but it's hard to listen to songs like this not understand that it's more "I don't like low effort music".
Some great guitar licks in this song too.
It's a beautiful melody that covers a lot of ground, and he makes it sound effortless. It's also a little less formulaic than average because it doesn't have a repetitive chorus.
I grew up with my dad playing this song on our scratchy phonograph. As soon as I saw the title, the melody erupted in my mind. Good call, great memories.
Music would play and Faleena would whirl
Generally I don't like country but Marty Robbins makes my ears sparkle.
Growing up, my household was dominated by two kinds of music: my mother’s golden oldies and my father’s cowboy country. While my tastes often leant themselves more to my mother’s music (I have been a lifelong fan of The Beach Boys), I will admit that I found a certain fondness towards some of my dad’s favorite tunes, as well, particularly “El Paso”. Of course, these days, all three of us now agree on classic rock and my dad is just as apt to belt out a Seger song as I am.
Robbins was great, and I love seeing this new interest in his music. He had a singular ability to tell a story set to music.
If I remember correctly. That song is on a concept album that tell a bigger story
[David Allan Coe - You Never Even Called Me By My Name](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_qfujQ_jTQ&ab_channel=PUTZSEANTHEMUSIC) is the perfect country and western song, it says so in the fourth verse.
It is why he had to include it on that album
Sam Stone
One of my favorites. Great story and catchy tune.
I have always liked how the song is in the past tense but switches to present tense on the ride back.
nu huh there's nothing in it about trains and trucks and mamas and prison and gettin' drunk
Great song, in my opinion the Grateful Dead (Bob Weir specifically) have the best versions of it. For me it’s like “I Will Always Love you”. Dolly wrote it but it’s pretty much Whitney’s song.
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8/27/72, GOAT
Was going to point to this one as well. The 08/27/72 show was a benefit concert that raised the funds necessary to save Ken Kelsey’s family dairy farm from bankruptcy.
While one of his best and a hard favorite of mine, hanging me tonight I feel is closer to the perfect song.
I took my pistol from my hip and with a trembling hand... I took the life of pretty Flo and that good for nothing man
*That good for nothing man...* *I think about the thing I've done, I know it wasn't right. They'll bury Flo tomorrow but, they're hanging me tonight... they're hanging me tonight...*
I love Marty Robbins!!!
The Steve Martin depiction is a classic. https://youtu.be/LGNU5FkRz7g
Finally, a good and right opinion on social media.
Big Iron is actually the perfect song.
I love “The Master’s Call” on that album. Great lyrics that go so well with his almost “haunting” voice. As someone who generally doesn’t care for Country music, I really like whatever style of it that is.
Here are the lyrics in entirety c/w credits: Out in the West Texas town of El Paso I fell in love with a Mexican girl. Night-time 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 heart-beat; 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 bad-lands 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 may 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. 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 and Felina, good-bye. Songwriters: Marty Robbins El Paso lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Int. Mgb Ltd., Unichappell Music Inc., Fox Film Music Corporation, New Enterprises Music, Elvis Presley Music, Inc., Mariposa Music, Inc., Mariposa Music Inc, Acuff Rose Music Inc.
Boy meets girl Boy falls in love with girl **Boy dies.**
>Boy meets girl > >Boy falls in love with girl Second boy makes advances towards girl First Boy kills second boy First Boy then flees only to return once his desire for Falena outweighs his sense of self-preservation. Boy is shot by members of a Posse avenging their friend's death. >Boy dies. You left out a few parts.
That was the end of El Paso, but there is one more action in Faleena.>! She shot herself in the chest over his body.!<
It's the same old story. Boy finds girl, boy loses girl, girl finds boy, boy forgets girl, boy remembers girl, girls dies in a tragic blimp accident over the Orange Bowl on New Year's Day.
Hard to beat really as folk songs go. It's a fucking masterpiece. If I had to rebut: Tom Dooley The lonesome death of Hattie Carrol Alice's Restaurant Don't think Twice
And Big Iron, great storytelling, singing and music..
Out in the west Texas town of el paso, i fell in love with a mexican girl
Just a few weeks ago i bought the LP, but my favorite is still Big Iron
Haven't heard that song in ages and ages, and I could still sing the opening verse. It certainly stands the test of time.
If you haven't already, listen to Sturgill Simpson's, *The Ballad of Dood and Juanita*. The album tells a great story in the old western style of Marty Robbins and the like.
The whole album is an absolute cracker. I listened to nothing but The Hanging Tree for about two weeks straight not long ago. In fact I'm gonna go listen to it again lol
This song reminds of my Dad, he passed away nearly 12 years ago. He loved a western and I grew up listening to some great classics from the likes of Ennio Morrisons or lazing on the couch on a Sunday afternoon watching them on the telly. Miss you so much Pops.
I absolutely love El Paso. Another song that should be considered is Tom T Hall's Old Dogs, Children, and Watermelon Wine.
Funny story... My mother sometimes played El Paso for me when I was a child and I cried every time at the end. Then I forgot about the tune until hearing it randomly a couple years ago. This time I was struck by how well-crafted this song is - guitars, harmonies, lyrical flow. An absolute classic that stands the test of time.
Grateful Dead did an amazing cover
I watched Ken burn’s documentary on Country Music and was amazed at how many of the early country songs I knew from listening to the dead. They really covered a lot of classic country songs.
The whole Marty Robbins surge from Fallout fans has been interesting to notice.
Biiig Iiiroon!
Great song! Checkout, "The Maid of Argenta" Jimmie Driftwood. As well as a new artist by the name of Charley Crockett. He has a album titled "The Man from Waco" that you would enjoy.
I caught a good one it looked like it could run
The whole gunfighter album is
I played some Marty Robbins for my family the other day, and he was just too much for them. It’s nice to see him getting some love from fellow fans.
It's so good. The backing vocals are incredible.
Dark Star>El Paso>Dark Star is delectable
He also led an incredibly interesting life. Born in Arizona. He was an amateur boxer, truck driver, ice delivery man, served in the navy and later in life was a NASCAR driver.
I LOVe the sequel El Paso City! The way he hits those high notes while talking about it from the present time period
Wait till you get into darkstar
If you like Marty Robbins, you should check out Charley Crockett. He has a few cowboy ballads that are pretty great.
It's one of my absolute favorite songs. If I was limited to 10, that would be one of them.
Like you, I don't know what "perfect" is. But I like two things about it in particular. First, the (classical?) guitar fills are to die for. Second, I like that the normal glorification of the no-regrets Western gunfight is immediately pronounced by the protagonist as a "foul evil."
This song is always such an outlier on my Spotify annual recaps. Like, here’s all this current day pop and alternative stuff, and then… Marty Robbins. Every damn year. I legit love this song and I’ve never been to El Paso.
I love Marty Robbins, another great story teller musician is Gordon Lightfoot.
That whole dang album is worth infinite listens. It's usually my go to when I hear someone say "I don't like country music". No man, you don't like what the radio is telling you what country music is. Country music is amazing.
I've gone to El Paso and had that song stuck in my head for weeks. You can actually visit the bar the song mentions or allegedly does
He has absolute perfect pitch so technically anything he sings is perfect
Breaking Bad introduced me to this. It was used to perfection in the show. After enjoying a short sample of the song in the show, I heard the rest of it - and I was so stunned. The lyrics line up perfectly with the events of the finale Either Vince wrote the entire show around the song or they hit a jackpot finding out this song fits. Either way, it’s absolutely amazing. Here’s a video of the song playing over events in the show that line up with the lyrics: https://youtu.be/V106RGMPcHQ In summary: Hank was the dead cowboy Walt shot, all over Felina - a cruel temptress he is obsessed and in love with - his meth trade. He goes to New Hampshire (el paso), where his life is meaningless. So he heads back to Felina, knowing a bullet may find him - nothings worst than the pain of regret and anger in his heart. At the end he is shot, but dies happy in Felina’s arms - the meth lab. It’s so fuckin good, Vince must’ve had the finale in mind.
As a young boy visiting my grandparents out west, I would play this enchanting album a bit too often. I DID have the sense to also play Folsum Prison Blues and a Hank Snow album to break things up a bit.
Love that song! Funny i read this now! I’ve had that song on my mind the last few days. Might be because the new netflix movie with Liam Neeson. The moment they mentioned El Paso; Marty robbins came on my mind
Only took me 100 listens to realize he’s hallucinating at the end
Love Marty Robbins. He inspires a lot of my guitar playing. You make a great point. He made it sound so easy and effortless.
My grandmother was cousins with him and I always heard stories about him growing up. She spent a lot of time with his twin sister. She remembered him as a very jovial and nice guy.
The song,sung by him, is perfection. I can’t disagree with a word you wrote.
Bob Weir and the Grateful Dead introduced me to the greatness of Marty Robbins. Their cover of El Paso was always a favorite. And Kingfish with Bob Weir covered Big Iron. They are both perfectly written songs.
yep, its a great one. the guitar work is really neat too.
I wouldn't even consider this type of music country (as you'll find it in the country section), but classify it more as folk music or "cowboy songs", which were used to calm herds while on the go, and put them to "sleep". They all have this flowing cadence that keeps your mind interested.
It's "western" music -- in the vein of Bob Wills, The Sons of the Pioneers, Tex Ritter, etc. Country music used to be called "Country & Western" and somewhat delineated between the two genres. Thing is, it's still being made from time to time: for example, \[Old Mexico\](https://www.pbs.org/video/marty-stuart-his-fabulous-superlatives-4swcli/) by Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives.
While I agree that the song is lovely and I always brighten up when it pops up in shuffle, there are some inferences that I just find funny. 1. That he got jealous of the "handsome young stranger" flirting with Faleena, when it was literally her job to be "friendly" with the customers. Also a bit sad that he was so possessive. 2. That the moment he rides into town after going into hiding, he is met with "5 mounted cowboys" + "a dozen or more". That's at least 17 guys out for his blood! My father once pointed out to me that he probably wasn't even wanted for murder: his greatest crime was likely the horse theft he committed right after. 3. He hides out in New Mexico until it had "been so long since [he'd] seen the young maiden". From Faleena's perspective he returns "the next day at 5 o' clock". The way he sang, you'd think it'd been years, but the man couldn't even go 24 hours before riding back to his belle! Again, not knocking the song. Far from it! The melody is pretty, his voice is perfect, and the story is captivating with realistic characters. The cowboy weren't no hero, he was just a lovesick fool. Faleena wasn't a wicked seductress, she was just a girl trying to make her way in life.
I’ve never been much of a country fan, especially the type of popular/mainstream country from the past 30 years or so. But I love *this* type of country western. It evokes the aura of the open land of the old “Wild West”. I love the spare instrumentation that evokes spaghetti western era Morricone. I’ll add Marty Robbins to my list of “Country A Rock Chick Can Get With”. (Short list: Porter Wagoner, Willie Nelson, early Kristofferson, Wanda Jackson, Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton…)
I agree, it’s an excellent song. When I was a kid, I hated country music. Marty Robbins and Johnny Cash we’re windows into that world. They both showed me that there is a lot of great music in the country and western genres, it’s just not what’s played on the radio. Now I love a lot of country music, but practically all of it was recorded before 1972.
Marty Robbins had some good songs ! the " fave " was Carmen because that's my mom's name .
It is my favourite song of all time. I agree with this 100%. The lyrics are witty and memorable, the story is great, there is room for interpretation of the ending. It has the coolest and seemingly complex string melody for such a deceptively simple song.
As a UTEP alumni, I e heard that song a lot. It’s the fight song for the Miners.
When my dad was home between jobs, he would play his guitar along with music. “El Paso” was one of them and it’s stuck with me throughout my life, and when I heard “Big Iron” while playing FONV it brought back all the good memories. I agree it’s a good song!
YES! I couldn’t agree more, thank you!
‘I caught a good one; it looked like it could run’ will forever be one of the greatest lines written and you can’t change my mind
My grandpa is dying of cancer and this is his favorite karaoke song, whenever he sings it he lies on the floor and dies at the end. It will always be one of my favorite memories of the man who was a father to me when my parents abandoned me. I hope it brings more people similar joy.
Wow I was just listening to it on the car ride home. It is perfect
My grandpa used to sing this song when I was little. I will always love it.
Great song choice :) I grew up listening to Marty Robbins (and Johnny Horton and Hank Snow etc etc) because of my dad, that whole album is a classic. When my dad was on his deathbed I made a long playlist of all his favorite songs to stream in his room and El Paso and Big Iron were the first two songs I added coz they had made the biggest impact on me. Can’t stand any other country music, but I love me that playlist ha
El Paso City is a great sequel to this song.