The Heartbreak of an Unanswered Prayer
Answer me, oh my love, just what sin have I been guilty of? These words, sung with a palpable ache, form the very core of Marty Robbins’ haunting 1960 hit, “Answer Me, My Love.” It is a song that doesn’t just tell a story; it embodies a feeling, a universal sense of loss and confusion that transcends time and genre. While the song is not one of his iconic western ballads, it still showcases Robbins’ masterful ability to convey deep emotion with a clear, resonant voice. This single’s immense success is a testament to its powerful message, reaching the top of both the country and pop music charts at the start of 1960. It was a remarkable achievement that proved Robbins’ versatility, showing he could move from tales of gunfighters and outlaws to the raw, tender emotion of a broken heart. The song was also included on his album Just a Little Sentimental, released in 1961, further solidifying its place in his discography.
The song’s origin is not with Robbins himself, but rather a testament to his keen ear for a good tune. “Answer Me, My Love” was originally a German song, “Mütterlein,” composed by Gerhard Winkler with lyrics by Fred Rauch. It was later adapted into English with new lyrics by Carl Sigman. The melody itself is filled with a sweeping, almost cinematic sadness, and Sigman’s English lyrics perfectly capture the profound sense of abandonment. Robbins’ version, however, is the one that many remember most fondly, especially for those who came of age during that era. It’s the kind of song that would play on the car radio, drifting in through an open window on a late summer evening. The sound of his voice, rich and full of longing, would fill the car, and you’d find yourself caught up in the sorrow of the narrator.
The meaning of the song is straightforward but deeply affecting. It’s a plea from a man who has been left by his lover without explanation. He’s not angry; he’s bewildered and heartbroken. The central question he poses—”Just what sin have I been guilty of?”—is the core of his agony. He’s searching for a reason, a fault, anything that can make sense of the sudden, devastating silence. This is a feeling that resonates with anyone who has ever been on the receiving end of an abrupt and unexplained breakup. The mind replays every conversation, every moment, searching for the one wrong word or action that could have led to this outcome. The song isn’t about the grand gestures of love; it’s about the quiet desperation of a love that has simply vanished. The repeated pleas to “answer me, my love” become a mournful prayer, a hope that if he can just understand the “why,” he might find some small measure of peace.
Listening to it today, it evokes a sense of time and place. It’s the sound of a bygone era, of jukeboxes in dimly lit diners, of young people dancing close, and of a more innocent, yet still deeply emotional, approach to music. The simplicity of the arrangement, with its swelling strings and gentle backing vocals, allows Robbins’ voice and the powerful lyrics to take center stage. There’s a certain nostalgia in the way the song is structured—it feels timeless, a classic lament that could have been written at any point in history. It reminds us that no matter how much the world changes, some emotions, like the pain of an unanswered goodbye, remain the same. For many, it’s a cherished memory, a song that takes them back to a time when heartbreak felt both intensely personal and universally shared.
Oldies Songs