Marty Robbins - Five Brothers Lyrics






Five brothers who left Arkansas
Set out to find the gambler
Who murdered their pa
Five brothers and three in their teens
Gotta find the man
Who killed their pa in New Orleans

They heard of him in Houston
And his trail was leadin' west
He'd left there many months ago
And so they couldn't rest
Five brothers and three in their teens
Gotta find the man
Who killed their pa in New Orleans
New Orleans

The sun was hot as fire
And the nights were cold as steel
Hate was strong and youth was wild
And so they couldn't feel
Five brothers and three in their teens
Gotta find the man
Who killed their pa in New Orleans

His trail led to the Badlands
And the desert promised death
The gambler's odds were different now
He treasured every breath
Five brothers and three in their teens
Close behind the man
Who killed their pa in New Orleans
New Orleans

When first they saw the killer
He was by the waterhole
Five rifles rang out through the night
They killed the gambler cold
Five brothers and three in their teens
Finally got the man
Who killed their pa in New Orleans

The desert is their keeper now
For this a traveler said
That poison lived within the hole
Now six of them are dead
Five brothers and three in their teens
Lay beside the man
Who killed their pa in New Orleans
Lay beside the man
Who killed their pa in New Orleans





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Marty Robbins Five Brothers Comments
  1. f.... ....

    The sound quality on this track is just terrible...

  2. A.... r....

    Sorry, I believe I’m on the wrong song... Don’t mind me

  3. M.... E....

    The part that always gave me goosebumps:
    "The sun was hot as fire
    And the nights were cold as steel
    Hate was strong and youth was wild
    And so they couldn't feel
    Five brothers and three in their teens
    Gotta find the man

    Who killed their pa in New Orleans."

  4. L.... J....

    my name is Lay Jeno and i approve this message

  5. R.... 2....

    My grandma used to listen to this and I just found it 5 years later

  6. S.... J....

    “Five rifles rang out through the night” that line gave me chills

  7. b.... r....

    I am India in pondichery year 2019 wonderful song this generation also

  8. j.... m....

    greatest song story teller ever..

  9. j.... s....

    would make a great movie if DONE RIGHT

  10. C.... V....

    Wtf howd did i end up disliking this song?

  11. M.... T....

    wow amazinggg

  12. K.... A....

    If only our singers were as devoted as Marty .he is a perfect example of real country music which had a true meaning to them

  13. R.... F....

    Is that Marty or Jimmy Dean?

  14. k.... c....

    Amazing song sadly he died in my state RIP Marty Robbins wish this was in fallout new vegas

  15. J.... H....

    Kinda reminds me of The Ridiculous Six movie. They kinda have the same story line.

  16. C.... B....

    The gambler dude just got a squad wipe.

    C.... B....

    Martyrdom drop a live grenade when killed

  17. R.... ....

    That son of a bitch got what was coming no matter the outcome

  18. C.... K....

    The man they killed might’ve been the six brother (maybe)

  19. J.... H....

    I don’t understand. Why did the brothers end up dying?

    J.... H....

    The water was posinous

  20. c.... m....

    I love how back in the day songs weren't just about sex and drugs but had a story to tell and a lesson part of the reason I hardly listen to new music

    c.... m....

    Hey same here it's sad man and all that kind of stuff is glorified now days and idk if you play rdr or not but what if rock star made a dlc story based off of this song

  21. O.... T....

    8 brothers went out 0 came back

  22. f.... ....

    I figured out what i love about Marty's songs

    They tell storys, every song tells a self contained story

  23. g.... ....

    I have been looking for this song forever. It was one of my favorites when I was a kid.

  24. p.... 3....

    Who else really likes how he sings out five brothers

  25. Y.... ....

    *Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.*



    *Or in this case 6.*

    Y.... ....

    Make it more because somebody else probably eventually will drink from the water hole.

  26. Z.... T....

    Five brothers who left Arkansas
    Set out to find the gambler
    Who murdered their pa
    Five brothers and three in their teens
    Gotta find the man
    Who killed their pa in New Orleans

    They heard of him in Houston
    And his trail was leadin' west
    He'd left there many months ago
    And so they couldn't rest
    Five brothers and three in their teens
    Gotta find the man
    Who killed their pa in New Orleans
    New Orleans

    The sun was hot as fire
    And the nights were cold as steel
    Hate was strong and youth was wild
    And so they couldn't feel
    Five brothers and three in their teens
    Gotta find the man
    Who killed their pa in New Orleans
    His trail led to the Badlands
    And the desert promised death
    The gambler's odds were different now
    He treasured every breath
    Five brothers and three in their teens
    Close behind the man
    Who killed their pa in New Orleans
    New Orleans

    When first they saw the killer
    He was by the waterhole
    Five rifles rang out through the night
    They killed the gambler cold
    Five brothers and three in their teens
    Finally got the man
    Who killed their pa in New Orleans

    The desert is their keeper now
    For this a traveler said
    That poison lived within the hole
    Now six of them are dead
    Five brothers and three in their teens
    Lay beside the man
    Who killed their pa in New Orleans
    Lay beside the man
    Who killed their pa in New Orleans

    Z.... T....

    Thanks man

    Z.... T....

    Thank you

    Z.... T....

    It’s in the description...

  27. M.... C....

    Every once in a while I come across a series of three to five notes in a song that are somehow better than all others... in this one, it's the refrain "three in their teens."

  28. M.... C....

    This one is underrated based on views.

  29. A.... �....

    The gambler didn't poison the water hole.
    Arsenic was frequently the con-taminant that poisoned water holes in the Old West. Depending upon arsenic concentration and how much one drank, water from such an oasis could often lead to severe, painful illness with lingering debilitating effects and sometimes (for the very thirsty and very unlucky) an agonizing and rapid death

    A.... �....

    Interesting. Thank you for pointing that out.

    A.... �....

    Arsenic poisoning is not fun you literally feel like your dying if you get it

  30. t.... k....

    You don't get songs that got a story no more? They don't write songs like they use to.

    t.... k....

    Hey man your still alive!!

    t.... k....

    You can if you listen to metal.

    t.... k....

    @Guu'Thrak the Undying my first thought was Sabaton .

    t.... k....

    You've got MORE than a few in filk, metal, rap, rock, alternative, even a few in POP. Trust me, musical ballads are FAR from dead.

    t.... k....

    yea they do, it's called 'gangster rap'

  31. U.... G....

    im 1 year old and like this music >:^(

  32. s.... s....

    Talented writers inspired talented artists. Great song by a very talented artist who reveled in story telling through song. Marty Robbins was truly unique in his choice of material. As a young mam Marty Robbins single handedly made me wish I was a rooting tooting bad ass gun slinger from the wild west or Arizona forging a legendary name for myself as a law enforcement officer with free range to take down wanted men, dead or alive. sadly the closest I ever came to a cowboy was a bad tradesmen who blamed everybody else plus his tools.

  33. E.... M....

    One of the best songs of Mart Robbins

  34. F.... L....

    WOW!!! Had never heard this one either. Where the heck have I been for 68 years.

  35. C.... E....

    just wanted

  36. K.... K....

    Marty Robbins is the best storyteller in country music history.

  37. l.... g....

    I’m 14 and I love this song 😵

    l.... g....

    I’m being charged with three counts of second degree murder and love this song 🦵

  38. m.... w....

    i dont take  subscrbers  be  true  to  d  j

  39. L.... D....

    The gambler poisoned the water hole knowing the brothers would have to stop there as water holes are few in the desert. He however didn't count that they would catch him so fast. His plan in the end worked, sans him dying as the poison claimed the brothers.

  40. p.... E....

    I'm 22/7 and I live this sing. #borninthewrongequation

  41. F.... d....

    like the VIDEO if you are in school and love marty robbin

  42. J.... S....

    I've loved this song since I was a kid (and I'm forty now). What a great story! It'd make a great tv series.

  43. C.... W....

    Marty Robbins is the best western singer I've ever herd

  44. G.... V....

    blood debts are always worth the price

  45. I.... o....

    Marty Robbins is the in the top 3 singers

  46. j.... s....

    who played the guitar on this song and his other work?

  47. L.... M....

    go Marty! you r the e best always were, always will be, AND I met 2 new fans tonight, we were having a sing fest

  48. J.... R....

    Sometimes I stop the song short to give it a happy ending.

  49. w.... ....

    A great story and a great storyteller.

  50. H.... R....

    This song would have been percect for for fallout new vegas

    H.... R....

    Yes it should

    H.... R....

    I would also like if they would put a npc Marty if they remaster new vegas

    H.... R....

    @Charlie Rothwill u should bitch

    H.... R....

    yep and Sundown to

    H.... R....

    *perfect

  51. B.... J....

    Marty Robbins was the Louie Lamar of western songs. every song was a book

    B.... J....

    Bob Jones He pretty much sang the plot to every movie John Wayne was in.

    B.... J....

    that's why I like these songs

    B.... J....

    i love louis lamour

    B.... J....

    You mean Louis L'Amour right? Just curious.

    B.... J....

    Harry Chapin, also!! Singer-songwriters who vividly paint their stories
    (and have bouncy compelling energy, as well:)

  52. R.... S....

    I'm 11 and I live this song

    R.... S....

    I'm 65, and I do too.

    R.... S....

    armadillotoe r u for real 65?

    R.... S....

    You live this song? Who killed your pa?

  53. L.... F....

    I remember when I met Marty Robbins and his lovely wife, and started working for them at the Marty Robbins Dance Parties. That's when I decided I wanted to sing, so Marty let me sing a song at one of his dance parties, and I've never been the same.

    L.... F....

    Brett Bright lol

    L.... F....

    Lewis Fulkerson Really? What a story. I do hope tis true.

    L.... F....

    lucky you

    L.... F....

    Yeah me too... marty let me sing at his wedding right after santa clause gave a speech

    L.... F....

    @Jonathan Garrett dont think i have laughed that hard in years

  54. Z.... T....

    if only modern hollywood movies had the narrative drive & economy of such masters...

  55. j.... s....

    beatufiul guitar work

  56. D.... D....

    I think im part if the very few 12 year olds that love good ole Marty

    D.... D....

    Tis rare to find one Like yourself. It also quite refreshing. Good taste sir.

    D.... D....

    Derek Dean I'm 12 too and I love Marty Robins

    D.... D....

    Derek Dean he’s got a good voice.

    D.... D....

    I'm 14 i love marty

  57. T.... ....

    So, did the gambler poison the 'waterhole' before he died?

    T.... ....

    @Kenneth Jacobus
    Thanks man, just went by so many old  westerns said whenever there was a poison  waterhole.

    T.... ....

    The ending is ambiguous. I always thought that the answer was no, as others have pointed out that many wells went bad over time. The song is a cautionary tale about revenge, after all, and how hatred will eventually consume you if you give in to it. It makes sense in this context that the brothers are the source of their own demise (i.e. pursuing the gambler to the water hole in the first place.)

    T.... ....

    yeah. it says thathe had been near yhe waterhole

    T.... ....

    Jennifer Saar I think that it goes one layer deeper: it doesn't matter. Whether the gambler poisoned the hole or not, the result of their reckless plan of revenge was all the same. One dead gambler, and five brothers, three in their teens. I love this about westerns, often the good or bad guys set out to do something, blind to any form of reason, and because of their recklessness, it begs the question whether it was worth it at all.

    T.... ....

    Two years late but thanks for the clarification guys!

  58. p.... n....

    denk meeeeeemes

  59. p.... n....

    You know the song is awesome when the comments can spoil it

    p.... n....

    probably not the illuminati Then I would say whom ever you R you have Never enjoyed C & W or Blue Grass Music , because if U did U would know Cowboys such as Roy Rogers weren't just Actors & singers Roy Rogers was the LAST of the REAL Cowboys he owned and worked his own ranch & enjoyed idol banter with other singers as we do about music .

    p.... n....

    SPOILER ALERT

    p.... n....

    @Lyle J Myles I love Roy rogers

  60. M.... M....

    It's a good song when you drive a truck.

  61. A.... D....

    great memes

  62. t.... ....

    Plot twist ending lol

    t.... ....

    i know right the gambler was a smart one poising the water hole

    t.... ....

    Did he poison the water hole or was it already poisoned? A lot of water was bad with alkali etc.... idk which is true 4 this song...

    t.... ....

    @Angelina Vita i dont think they knew.

  63. S.... j....

    for me in this song the gambler knew they would drink from the waterhole after they killed him they were too young to know the land so the gambler died but he took the brothers with him

    S.... j....

    shit thats good, i think it might be a lesson about karma. the gambler was going to die because thats what he deserved, the youth shouldnt have gone looking for revenge and by killing him in cold blood they to fell to the poison well/ bad karma

    S.... j....

    He poisoned the well because he knew they would have to stop there as watering holes are few and far between in the desert. He didn't expect them to catch him so fast, he definitely didn't intend to die there. However in the end his plan worked anyways sans him dying.

    S.... j....

    "The King's Ankus" by Kipling.

  64. j.... c....

    getting to reacquaint myself with a lot of artists i had forgotten about as i have just started to play one of my games on PC and this is one of the songs on a radio station modification in my game

    j.... c....

    probably

    j.... c....

    john cameron Fallout New Vegas?

    j.... c....

    He is much more than Big Iron

  65. N.... S....

    Neil lspencer

  66. L.... ....

    Do ya'all know that Marty Robbins was a NASCAR Driver back in the seventies. It's just such a pity & so sad that Marty Passed on(12/08/82) just after I was born(10/31/82) because I would so love to have met him & attended one of his performances. He had such an outstandingly amazing Baritone-Tenor voice and he was born & raised right here in my home state of Arizona and he worked as a ranch hand/cattleman in his salad days(younger days) and so that's how he knew all about the cowboy ways & lifestyle. I just sooo wish I could've met him!

    L.... ....

    Heard of him being mistaken as being Mexican (Hispanic) but never ugly...he was rather handsome...personality wise, he was beautiful. On his NASCAR racing..he came in 5th in one the Winston Cup races. That's not too shaggy for a p/t racer.

    L.... ....

    believe it or not he thought he was ugly

    L.... ....

    glad to know I am not the only one who thought he was handsome and he was a pretty good nascar driver I have all his movies he was not a good acvtor but his singing is the best ever I loved him since childhood

    L.... ....

    LipitzanerStallion29 Truly. He is one that, if ever they invent time travel and i get a chance, has made the short list of performers i would want to go and see.

    L.... ....

    Marty's grandpa was a magic medicine peddler travelling all over west in that era. He learned so many local legends of western towns and told little Marty thus to provide Marty with stories in his songs.

  67. W.... ....

    Where I can listening all of Marty Robbins songs?

    W.... ....

    @White4Dead All of his songs are also on Spotify, if you're familiar with that program.

    W.... ....

    @White4Dead

    W.... ....

    Well, not ALL of his songs are on Spotify. This song "Five Brothers" is NOT available there.

    W.... ....

    White4Dead right here x

    W.... ....

    https://archive.org/details/MartyRobbins

  68. C.... M....

    Fuckin' great !

  69. S.... M....

    1964 was the best in C.M

  70. j.... s....

    Great song one of his best   finally found out who sang back up on most of his songs  the Glaser Brothers

    j.... s....

    @jennifur sun Yes they did. And they were outstanding! I believe Tompall and Jim Glaser wrote this song! They wrote many, many songs for Marty.

    j.... s....

    @linda donahue aah didn't know that knew they sang backup

  71. A.... S....

    western music at it's best

  72. B.... L....

    This is realy good country music. Excellent guitar.  No pretentions.  Just the way it was.  Raw and honest. I love Jimi Hendrix, Willie Nelson.  The very symbols of freedom in my mind.  Marty Robbins too.

    B.... L....

    Except this is a Western Ballad, and thus a completely different thing. Still great, but the comparison is apples and oranges.

  73. R.... J....

    Blazing. Saddles,,,hi.! Ho.!robbo!!!!♦

  74. S.... O....

    Thank God for Marty!! Pop Country sucks!

  75. A.... G....

    Tompall Glaser wrote the lyrics and music.

    A.... G....

    @Andrea Grand Tompall never got the credit he deserved for so many things he did. He was a phenomenal songwriter! And NO ONE ever sang a country lyric like the great Tompall! NO ONE!

  76. J.... R....

    to Jayme 3100
    Since Marty Robbins wrote "Five Brothers," I think he probably had the lyrics right!

    J.... R....

    @Judy Royal I believe this song was written by Tompall and Jim Glaser. They wrote a lot of songs for Marty.

    J.... R....

    +linda donahue Didn't know who wrote this song, thanks for the information

    J.... R....

    @Steven Hulbert You're welcome.

  77. b.... ....

    This is a awesome selection of songs by Marty Robbins, thanks for the walk down memory lane. 

  78. S.... ....

    Clean your ears, it's ARKANSAS!

  79. B.... W....

    it is spelt arkansas, and pronounced arkansaw

  80. C.... A....

    I killed the replay button cold...

  81. z.... F....

    ..killed the gambler cold(murdering)....

  82. z.... F....

    ...leadin' west...

  83. P.... M....

    That's what I've got, Patrick. It's spelt Arkansas, I believe. :)

  84. p.... r....

    You ALL have the lyrics wrong:)

    The SECOND line goes....
    set out to find the gambler who murdered their pa.....

    So, to make it ryme, the FIRST line goes
    Five brothers who left Arkansaw

    Arkansaw rhymes with pa

  85. b.... ....

    Great one by Marty.....

  86. D.... ....

    Thanks, they are right as far as I'm concerned. Thanks for the upload.

  87. P.... M....

    Lyrics changed back. If they're wrong this time, to hell with it! :p

  88. K.... C....

    I much disagree. I've looked up the lyrics, and nowhere do I see "Dark In Soul". It is "Arkansas". :D

  89. E.... ....

    I looked it up on tons of websites it's definitely five brothers who left Arkansas, where are others getting their sources?

  90. D.... ....

    Where did you get that line? When he says "soul" it sounds alot more like saw, or sas in Arkansas.

  91. J.... B....

    no the next fallout game

  92. J.... H....

    Arkansas is correct

  93. P.... M....

    Lyrics changed. :)

  94. A.... A....

    Great tune, though the story has a very sad ending.

  95. J.... M....

    Shows how fare someone will go for love ones