This is a very beautiful song,a little depressing, but if you lost a loved one, this one is for you..I think Marty was crying himself when he sang this song..
Marty Robins was the original person to sing this song..It was originally a suicide note that was found in my community...It was a man who was in love with a woman who wanted nothing to do with him...it fell into the hands of a songwriter...=the last letter
All you folks who think willie, and jack greene did this song justice, should hear Merle Haggard sing it. Merle does it real justice from his Ramblin' Fever album.
Too slow and draggy, and the backup musicians and choice of instrument accompaniment are lousy. My dad did it right. It should be smoother and slightly slightly faster tempo. The bass player should stick to the basics, lose the drum, piano, and twangy electric guitar. This song should be done strictly with acoustic instruments, with nothing more than guitar and bass. If a lead guitar is used, it should be acoustic, too. Overall, this is the worst rendition of this song I've ever heard.
Wonderful performance by Marty. Marty was the heart and soul of country music. Marty had a voice and a style of singing a song that won't ever be duplicated or forgotten. Frank James
"I will be gone/when you read this last letter/from me ..." I've always thought that meant gone from this world ... I can be in the most upbeat mood ever and this song still has me in tears by the end. A great performance by one of the true greats.
I have heard the Willie Nelson version and also the Rex Griffin original. My preference however, is for the Marty Robbins and Jack Green versions. A n honourable mention should also go to Johnny Rodriguez.
For the most part, sad songs written before this Rex Griffin song, were melodramatic. If you listen to Rex Griffin`s original you can see the start of songs with truth at their heart. Marty Robbins was all class but nothing matches the original version of this song. It`s difficult to find but it is available on a couple of "country classic" type compilation CDs.
I remember back when Public Television used to broadcast the entire Opry show live from Nashville on Saturday night during their pledge drive. I think it was March of 1974 they had a bad late season snowfall during one of those broadcasts. As was Marty's tradition he closed the show that night. One of the buses was involved in a fender bender so Marty told everyone that if they stayed he would stay on stage until the roads were clear. He walked off stage at 5:30 am. I was there that night.
Have you heard Bobby Sykes singing 'Jimmy And Me' which I posted on youtube? I think the recording is actually Little Roy Wiggins accompanied with a vocal by Bobby. I believe that Roy was one of the few of Nashville's musicians who Marty used to invite to his home in Brentwood.
Little Roy Wiggins told me once that Marty wanted him on the recording, that is until Hoy Hoy broke him up with a mournful "Ting-a-Ling" run. "I'll never get through it with you playing like that Marty told him. Little Roy talks about both he and George Morgan tearing up on a live performance of this song on his videos posted on here. Little Roy is also playing behind Marty on the Marty Robbins at the Grand Ole Opry video as well.
Little Roy and Jerry Byrd were Marty's favorite steel players. Hoy Hoy can be heard on almost every post from the early Grand Ole Opry show. Those video's were taken from the television Opry show. Marty was as warm and genuine as anyone I have ever met. A misconception about Marty was that he was aloof; that is untrue. He had several layers of friends but those closest to him were like family. Marty was very protective of his personal life and family which led some to think he was aloof.
Johnny Rodriguez did a great job in this song in the late 70's or early 80's. i have been looking for a video for it for a long time. even an audio version would be great.
Whoever wrote this song had to have "been there" to write lyrics like these. Agreed that Marty's rendering really makes you believe, and when it gets to the line "I will be gone/when you read this last letter/from me" you're wondering gone from her or gone from life itself.
Yes, it is depressing, nevertheless sung as it should be by my all around favorite singer --- thanks for sharing
3Wander6ing 2 months ago
This is a very beautiful song,a little depressing, but if you lost a loved one, this one is for you..I think Marty was crying himself when he sang this song..
19greenacre 3 months ago
Mr. Teardrop does it again! One of my most favorite songs.
gunfighter46 3 months ago
i have heard many singgers sang this song but the best i heard so far is glen campbell...
greenpanther39 5 months ago
Gene Autry did the best version of this song.
FoxPlant2006 7 months ago
Marty does the best rendition of this song that I have ever heard!
philmoretfudpucket
philmoretfudpucket 8 months ago
Marty was not the original singer.This song was written somewhere around 1940.I sang it when I was about 10 years old and I/m 80 now
anyzany 1 year ago 2
Comment removed
misstlross07 1 year ago
Marty Robins was the original person to sing this song..It was originally a suicide note that was found in my community...It was a man who was in love with a woman who wanted nothing to do with him...it fell into the hands of a songwriter...=the last letter
misstlross07 1 year ago
All you folks who think willie, and jack greene did this song justice, should hear Merle Haggard sing it. Merle does it real justice from his Ramblin' Fever album.
guitarguy156 1 year ago
Too slow and draggy, and the backup musicians and choice of instrument accompaniment are lousy. My dad did it right. It should be smoother and slightly slightly faster tempo. The bass player should stick to the basics, lose the drum, piano, and twangy electric guitar. This song should be done strictly with acoustic instruments, with nothing more than guitar and bass. If a lead guitar is used, it should be acoustic, too. Overall, this is the worst rendition of this song I've ever heard.
ThomasASwilling 1 year ago
i think my favorite version has to be the waylon jennings version. i think he nails the feeling behind this song
benelli10 1 year ago
Wonderful performance by Marty. Marty was the heart and soul of country music. Marty had a voice and a style of singing a song that won't ever be duplicated or forgotten. Frank James
FrankJamesMusic 1 year ago
"I will be gone/when you read this last letter/from me ..." I've always thought that meant gone from this world ... I can be in the most upbeat mood ever and this song still has me in tears by the end. A great performance by one of the true greats.
roadboyIL 1 year ago
Marty was the finest country singer ever!I never tire of listening to his wonderful music!
stratfordladz 1 year ago
I like Merle Haggard's the best, then I like this one. The two best for me.
sanQ 2 years ago
I have heard the Willie Nelson version and also the Rex Griffin original. My preference however, is for the Marty Robbins and Jack Green versions. A n honourable mention should also go to Johnny Rodriguez.
tarquin45 2 years ago
Nice, Thanks for posting! Willie Nelson does a good version of this too.
01musicfan 2 years ago
This song illustrates why he was sometimes called the man with a tear in his voice. He can make your heart break just listening to him. Lovely!
jbrandiwine 2 years ago 3
Marty had that knack of really getting to the heart of the song. I don't like the song because it's a suicide song and I do like happy endings!
Great performance though.
tarquin45 2 years ago
For the most part, sad songs written before this Rex Griffin song, were melodramatic. If you listen to Rex Griffin`s original you can see the start of songs with truth at their heart. Marty Robbins was all class but nothing matches the original version of this song. It`s difficult to find but it is available on a couple of "country classic" type compilation CDs.
Mouldytone 2 years ago
it can also be found on youtube by searching "last letter rex griffin."
easygrip 2 years ago
I remember back when Public Television used to broadcast the entire Opry show live from Nashville on Saturday night during their pledge drive. I think it was March of 1974 they had a bad late season snowfall during one of those broadcasts. As was Marty's tradition he closed the show that night. One of the buses was involved in a fender bender so Marty told everyone that if they stayed he would stay on stage until the roads were clear. He walked off stage at 5:30 am. I was there that night.
pro3tlb 2 years ago 2
Have you heard Bobby Sykes singing 'Jimmy And Me' which I posted on youtube? I think the recording is actually Little Roy Wiggins accompanied with a vocal by Bobby. I believe that Roy was one of the few of Nashville's musicians who Marty used to invite to his home in Brentwood.
tarquin45 2 years ago
Little Roy Wiggins told me once that Marty wanted him on the recording, that is until Hoy Hoy broke him up with a mournful "Ting-a-Ling" run. "I'll never get through it with you playing like that Marty told him. Little Roy talks about both he and George Morgan tearing up on a live performance of this song on his videos posted on here. Little Roy is also playing behind Marty on the Marty Robbins at the Grand Ole Opry video as well.
pro3tlb 2 years ago
Thanks for your informative post pro3tlb. Very interesting.
tarquin45 2 years ago
Little Roy and Jerry Byrd were Marty's favorite steel players. Hoy Hoy can be heard on almost every post from the early Grand Ole Opry show. Those video's were taken from the television Opry show. Marty was as warm and genuine as anyone I have ever met. A misconception about Marty was that he was aloof; that is untrue. He had several layers of friends but those closest to him were like family. Marty was very protective of his personal life and family which led some to think he was aloof.
pro3tlb 2 years ago
Little Roy told me once that this was his favorite sad song -- talked to him at his music shop in Pigeon Forge.
crispybeak 2 years ago
Excellent!!.
barrygioportmorien1 2 years ago
I love this song by Marty, thanks so much for sharing him with us. he was a very good friend of Hawkshaw Hawkins, whom I adored. Great song! 5*
sweetthing77203 3 years ago
what an incredible voice this man had. thanks tarquin keep posting these great marty songs
faustus999 3 years ago
Thank you so much tarquin for all of these great Marty songs you post. They are all so beautilul.5*****'s. Shirley
broncose1 3 years ago 2
The fabulous Marty. Nothing more can be said.
Tom1948 3 years ago
Nice to hear this one - cheers Dave. Any chance of "Funny Face"? All the best Les.
lelboy 3 years ago
written by willie nelson,,great song
stevendonelan 3 years ago
It was actually written by Rex Griffin and dates from 1937. The best version that I have ever heard apart from Marty's is by Jack Greene.
tarquin45 3 years ago
hi tarquin45.....many thanks for the information,
peace and good wishes ...steve
stevendonelan 3 years ago
Johnny Rodriguez did a great job in this song in the late 70's or early 80's. i have been looking for a video for it for a long time. even an audio version would be great.
texas759 3 years ago
he could sing using a phone book for words and it would be great......
biltom 3 years ago
Whoever wrote this song had to have "been there" to write lyrics like these. Agreed that Marty's rendering really makes you believe, and when it gets to the line "I will be gone/when you read this last letter/from me" you're wondering gone from her or gone from life itself.
A true classic, songwriter and singer!
roadboyIL 3 years ago 2
UNBEATABLE SINGER AND AND MAN.
W1LL1066 3 years ago
*****'s to anything Marty does.
potent357 3 years ago