Marty Robbins – The Master’s Touch: A Testament to Enduring Faith and Divine Intervention
In the expansive musical catalog of Marty Robbins, where tales of gunfights and borderland romance often dominate, there exists a quieter, yet profoundly significant corner dedicated to matters of faith and deep gratitude. “The Master’s Touch” is a shining example from this collection, a moving, heartfelt ballad that speaks to the comfort and assurance found in a higher power. It’s the kind of song that offered listeners a contemplative moment, a pause for reflection in a world increasingly moving too fast.
This particular ballad was released on the 1970 album, My Woman, My Woman, My Wife. It’s important to note the context of this album’s release: 1970 was shortly after Marty Robbins had suffered his first heart attack and undergone open heart surgery. This event profoundly influenced the sentimentality and sincerity of the album, which features loving tributes to his wife, Marizona, and includes this deeply spiritual track. While “The Master’s Touch” was not a chart-topping single—the title track “My Woman, My Woman, My Wife” was the huge Number 1 hit that led the album to peak at Number 2 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart—it is an absolutely vital piece of the album’s emotional and thematic tapestry. It was written by Hank Hanewinkel and Terra Lang, beautifully fitting the reflective mood of Robbins at the time.
The meaning of “The Master’s Touch” is centered entirely on redemption and the power of God’s grace. It uses gentle, almost pastoral imagery to describe a moment of salvation—that moment when a weary soul, battered by the storms of life, feels the “Master’s Touch” and finds instant peace. The “Master” here is, unequivocally, Jesus Christ. The lyrics speak of the world’s troubles, the trials and tribulations that leave one feeling beaten down and hopeless. But the song provides the ultimate antidote: a sudden, overwhelming feeling of spiritual relief that washes away the years of pain.
For listeners who appreciate the Gospel elements woven throughout traditional country music, this song is a beautiful offering. Robbins’ vocal performance is tender and utterly sincere. He sings it not as a preacher proclaiming a lesson, but as a man who has genuinely felt the truth of the lyrics—a man who, having recently faced his own mortality, is singing a humble song of survival and thankfulness. It’s a testament to the fact that even the celebrated “gunfighter” needed solace, demonstrating the vulnerability and human need for faith that underlies even the toughest exterior.
This song, and indeed the entire My Woman, My Woman, My Wife album, offers a precious window into Marty Robbins‘ personal life and his deeply held religious beliefs. It stands as a moving reminder that the quiet acts of faith and the simple gratitude for a life extended are often the themes that resonate most deeply, especially as one begins to reflect on life’s long road.
Music Legend