Country Music

Classic Country Music Hits

Country Music

In 1970, Marty Robbins was honored by the Academy of Country Music as the “Man of the Decade,” a recognition not only for his outstanding musical talent but also for his respectable character. One of the most moving stories that illustrates Marty Robbins’ heart is the creation of the song “Two Little Boys.” The story begins with a tragedy in the world of country music. In 1963, a plane crash claimed the lives of several talented artists, including Patsy Cline and the singer Hawkshaw Hawkins. Their sudden passing left behind immeasurable sorrow. At that time, Hawkshaw Hawkins’ wife, fellow singer Jean Shepard, was facing immense grief. She had not only lost her beloved husband but was also left alone with the responsibility of raising their young son, Don Robin Hawkins, and was pregnant with their second child, Harold Hawkins. As a close family friend, Marty Robbins was deeply heartbroken by Jean’s situation. He wanted to do more than just offer words of comfort; he wanted to do something truly meaningful to help her and her children. With deep empathy, he wrote the song “Two Little Boys.” The lyrics are like a monologue from the widow, who sees the image of her late husband in her two little boys, believing he would be very proud of them. However, the most admirable part of the story lies not just in the song’s touching melody. In a truly noble gesture, Marty Robbins decided not to take credit as the songwriter. Instead, he officially credited the two boys, Don and Harold Hawkins, as the composers. This act ensured that all royalties from the song would go directly to them, providing a stable source of financial support for their future.

“Scroll down to the end of the article to listen to music.”
Introduction

Sometimes the songs that stay with us the longest aren’t the loud anthems or the ones that top every chart. They’re the quiet stories that catch you off guard — the ones that make you stop and feel something deeper. Jean Shepard’s “Two Little Boys” is one of those songs.

Released in 1964, the ballad paints a vivid picture of friendship, innocence, and the way childhood bonds follow us into adulthood. At its core, it’s a story of two boys playing soldier together — a game that later becomes reality when war pulls them apart and eventually brings them back together in the most bittersweet way. Shepard delivers it with the kind of tenderness only she could bring, her voice wrapping the story in warmth and sorrow all at once.

What makes it so special is how timeless the message feels. Whether you hear it as a tribute to friendship, a reminder of the cost of war, or simply a reflection on how life changes but love endures, it leaves a mark. It’s not just about those “two little boys” in the song — it’s about all of us, about the people we grew up with, the ones we’ve lost, and the memories that never fade.

Jean Shepard was already known as a pioneer for women in country music, but this song shows another side of her artistry — the ability to take a story and make it feel universal. Sixty years later, “Two Little Boys” still has the power to tug at your heart, not because it’s flashy or complicated, but because it’s real.

Video

Related Post

Country Music

In 1969, Marty Robbins suffered a massive heart attack and became one of the earliest patients to undergo a dangerous triple bypass surgery. Lying in a hospital bed, he wasn’t thinking of fame or stages — only of Marizona, the gentle wife who had stood by him from the leanest years to the height of his success. From that place of weakness came strength. Marty put his gratitude into words, crafting “My Woman, My Woman, My Wife” — not polished in a studio, but whispered from the heart of a man who had brushed against death. The song became both a tribute and a testimony: to love, to devotion, to the quiet power of a life shared. In 1971, it earned him a Grammy, but more importantly, it touched millions who recognized themselves in its truth. Decades later, the song still stands as proof that the greatest music isn’t always crafted by skill — sometimes, it’s carved by love and survival.

Country Music

Have you ever felt that hollow ache when someone you love slips through your fingers, and all you can do is watch? That’s the chill Marty Robbins leaves in “You Won’t Have Her Long.” His voice, deep and almost ghostlike, doesn’t just sing—it lingers, pressing the truth against your chest: love that isn’t truly yours can never stay. The narrator doesn’t plead, doesn’t fight—he simply reminds, bitterly, that borrowed hearts will always drift away. It’s not a grand ballad; it’s quieter, heavier. And maybe that’s why it cuts so deep—because anyone who’s ever lost knows exactly what he meant.

Country Music

It wasn’t written for the charts — it was written like a vow. In 1988, Ricky Van Shelton recorded “I’ll Leave This World Loving You,” a tender ballad first sung by Ray Price in the 1970s. With his smooth, aching voice, Ricky didn’t just cover the song — he gave it new life, turning quiet heartbreak into timeless devotion. Ricky once admitted, “The best songs are the ones that feel true when you sing them.” And this one fit him like a second skin. Fans heard not just melody, but sincerity — the kind that doesn’t shout, only lingers. The song climbed to #1, becoming one of Ricky’s defining hits, yet its real power was personal. It reminded listeners that love, even when it ends in goodbye, can outlast time itself.

You Missed

Country Music

In 1970, Marty Robbins was honored by the Academy of Country Music as the “Man of the Decade,” a recognition not only for his outstanding musical talent but also for his respectable character. One of the most moving stories that illustrates Marty Robbins’ heart is the creation of the song “Two Little Boys.” The story begins with a tragedy in the world of country music. In 1963, a plane crash claimed the lives of several talented artists, including Patsy Cline and the singer Hawkshaw Hawkins. Their sudden passing left behind immeasurable sorrow. At that time, Hawkshaw Hawkins’ wife, fellow singer Jean Shepard, was facing immense grief. She had not only lost her beloved husband but was also left alone with the responsibility of raising their young son, Don Robin Hawkins, and was pregnant with their second child, Harold Hawkins. As a close family friend, Marty Robbins was deeply heartbroken by Jean’s situation. He wanted to do more than just offer words of comfort; he wanted to do something truly meaningful to help her and her children. With deep empathy, he wrote the song “Two Little Boys.” The lyrics are like a monologue from the widow, who sees the image of her late husband in her two little boys, believing he would be very proud of them. However, the most admirable part of the story lies not just in the song’s touching melody. In a truly noble gesture, Marty Robbins decided not to take credit as the songwriter. Instead, he officially credited the two boys, Don and Harold Hawkins, as the composers. This act ensured that all royalties from the song would go directly to them, providing a stable source of financial support for their future.

Country Music

In 1969, Marty Robbins suffered a massive heart attack and became one of the earliest patients to undergo a dangerous triple bypass surgery. Lying in a hospital bed, he wasn’t thinking of fame or stages — only of Marizona, the gentle wife who had stood by him from the leanest years to the height of his success. From that place of weakness came strength. Marty put his gratitude into words, crafting “My Woman, My Woman, My Wife” — not polished in a studio, but whispered from the heart of a man who had brushed against death. The song became both a tribute and a testimony: to love, to devotion, to the quiet power of a life shared. In 1971, it earned him a Grammy, but more importantly, it touched millions who recognized themselves in its truth. Decades later, the song still stands as proof that the greatest music isn’t always crafted by skill — sometimes, it’s carved by love and survival.

Country Music

Have you ever felt that hollow ache when someone you love slips through your fingers, and all you can do is watch? That’s the chill Marty Robbins leaves in “You Won’t Have Her Long.” His voice, deep and almost ghostlike, doesn’t just sing—it lingers, pressing the truth against your chest: love that isn’t truly yours can never stay. The narrator doesn’t plead, doesn’t fight—he simply reminds, bitterly, that borrowed hearts will always drift away. It’s not a grand ballad; it’s quieter, heavier. And maybe that’s why it cuts so deep—because anyone who’s ever lost knows exactly what he meant.

Country Music

It wasn’t written for the charts — it was written like a vow. In 1988, Ricky Van Shelton recorded “I’ll Leave This World Loving You,” a tender ballad first sung by Ray Price in the 1970s. With his smooth, aching voice, Ricky didn’t just cover the song — he gave it new life, turning quiet heartbreak into timeless devotion. Ricky once admitted, “The best songs are the ones that feel true when you sing them.” And this one fit him like a second skin. Fans heard not just melody, but sincerity — the kind that doesn’t shout, only lingers. The song climbed to #1, becoming one of Ricky’s defining hits, yet its real power was personal. It reminded listeners that love, even when it ends in goodbye, can outlast time itself.