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A western ballad originally written and recorded by Marty Robbins, first released on an album in September 1959 and subsequently issued as a single. The song achieved significant commercial success, becoming the inaugural number one hit of the 1960s on both country and pop charts. It received the Grammy Award for Best Country & Western Recording in 1961 and is regarded as a genre classic for its compelling narrative structure and distinctive Tex-Mex musical arrangement.
Lyrics ↗What the lyrics are about
A gripping narrative that concludes with the death of its main character, featuring shifts in temporal perspective from past to present tense.
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