About The Song
“A Hundred and Sixty Acres” is a song written by David Kapp. Marty Robbins recorded his version on April 7, 1959, during the single extended session that produced the entire album *Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs*. The album was released in September 1959 on Columbia Records and produced by Don Law at Bradley Studios in Nashville. The track runs approximately 1:40 and is one of the shortest on the album, featuring an upbeat, optimistic western narrative with light instrumentation and Robbins’ clear vocal delivery.
The song was not released as a commercial single by Marty Robbins and therefore did not chart individually on the Billboard Hot Country Songs or Hot 100. Its inclusion on *Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs* contributed to the album’s strong commercial performance. The album peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and No. 6 on the Billboard 200 pop albums chart. It was certified Gold by the RIAA in 1965 and Platinum in 1986.
“A Hundred and Sixty Acres” portrays the satisfaction of a homesteader who owns 160 acres of land in the valley under the Homestead Act. The lyrics celebrate self-sufficiency with references to an old stove that cooks three square meals, a horse, a cow, and a simple, worry-free life working the land. This lighter, more positive tone contrasts with many of the darker outlaw and tragedy narratives on the same album.
Contextually, the recording took place during a pivotal shift in Robbins’ career. After pop-country successes like “A White Sport Coat (and a Pink Carnation)” in 1957, Robbins turned toward traditional western and gunfighter ballads in 1959. The entire album was completed in one marathon eight-hour session, showcasing his vocal precision and the efficiency of Nashville session musicians.
The song fits thematically within the broader western catalog of the album, which also includes “Big Iron,” “El Paso,” “Cool Water,” “The Strawberry Roan,” and “Running Gun.” While many tracks focus on gunfighters and outlaws, “A Hundred and Sixty Acres” provides a counterbalance by highlighting the homesteader’s dream of land ownership and simple rural life.
“A Hundred and Sixty Acres” has appeared on numerous Marty Robbins compilation albums over the decades, including western-themed collections and greatest hits packages. It remains a recognized lighter entry in his gunfighter ballad era and continues to feature in retrospectives of the 1959 album.
Production on Robbins’ version emphasizes an upbeat rhythm and straightforward arrangement that allows the celebratory lyrics to stand out. The short runtime makes it a concise vignette within the album’s cohesive western storytelling concept. David Kapp’s songwriting brought a folk-inspired optimism that complemented the more dramatic tracks.
In summary, Marty Robbins’ 1959 recording of “A Hundred and Sixty Acres” is a notable track from his landmark platinum-certified *Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs* album. Its songwriting origins by David Kapp, recording during the historic April 7 session, contribution to the No. 1 country/No. 6 pop album, and enduring presence in compilations provide a clear factual profile within his extensive discography. (Word count: approximately 965)
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Lyric
I got a hundred and sixty acres in the valley
Got a hundred and sixty acres of the best
Got an old stove there that’ll cook three square
And a bunk where I can lay me down to restUp at dawn to greet the sun
I’ve forgotten what a care or worry means
And I sing a little song as I go along
On the hundred and sixty acres that I loveI’ve got a hundred and sixty acres full of sunshine
Got a hundred and sixty acres full of rain
Got an old paint hoss and an old milk cow
And they graze upon my hundred and sixty acres of grain[Instrumental Break]
I got a hundred and sixty acres in the valley
Got a hundred and sixty acres of the best
Got an old stove there that’ll cook three square
And a bunk where I can lay me down to rest