Parton began performing as a child, singing on local radio and television in East Tennessee. At age 12 she was appearing on Knoxville TV, and at 13, she was recording on a small label and appearing at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. When she graduated from high school in 1964 she moved to Nashville, taking many traditional elements of folklore and popular music from East Tennessee with her.
Parton's initial success came as a songwriter, with her songs being covered by Kitty Wells, Hank Williams, Jr., Skeeter Davis, and a number of others. She signed with Monument Records in late 1965, where she was initially pitched as a bubblegum pop singer, earning only one national chart single, "Happy, Happy Birthday Baby," which did not crack the Billboard Top 100. Additional pop singles also failed to chart.
The label agreed to have Parton sing country music after her composition "Put It Off Until Tomorrow" as recorded by Bill Phillips (and with Parton, uncredited, on harmony) went to No. 6 on the country charts in 1966. Her first country single, "Dumb Blonde" (one of the few songs during this era that she recorded but didn't write), reached No. 24 country 1967, followed later the same year with "Something Fishy," which went to No. 17. The two songs anchored her first full-length album, Hello I'm Dolly, that same year.
In 1967, Parton was asked to join the weekly syndicated country music TV program hosted by Porter Wagoner, replacing Norma Jean. She also signed with RCA Records, Wagoner's label, during this period, where she would remain for the next two decades. Wagoner and Parton immediately began a hugely successful career as a vocal duet in addition to their solo work and their first single together, a cover of Tom Paxton's "The Last Thing on My Mind," reached the top ten on the U.S. country charts in late 1967, and was the first of over a dozen duet singles to chart for them during the next several years.
Parton is a hugely successful songwriter, having begun by writing country songs with strong elements of folk music in them based upon her upbringing in humble mountain surroundings. Her songs "Coat of Many Colors" and "Jolene" have become classics in the field, as have a number of others. As a composer, she is also regarded as one of country music's most gifted storytellers, with many of her narrative songs based on persons and events from her childhood.
In 1982 Dolly Parton sang her song "I Will Always Love You", for the movie "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas", starring Parton and Burt Reynolds. The song - originally composed around 1974 - made few ripples, but it wasn't until Whitney Houston re-recorded it for "The Bodyguard" a decade later, that the song made yet another international hit for Dolly Parton. She later put out her own version on the 1996 album of the same name.
In 1987, Parton left her longtime label, RCA, and signed with Columbia Records, where her recording career continued to prosper, but by the mid 1990s, Parton, along with many other performers of her generation, found that her new music was not welcome on country radio playlists. She recorded a series of critically acclaimed bluegrass albums, beginning with "The Grass is Blue" (1999) and "Little Sparrow" (2001), both of which won Grammy Awards. Her 2002 album "Halos and Horns" included a bluegrass version of the Led Zeppelin classic Stairway to Heaven. In 2005, Parton released Those Were The Days, her interpretation of hits from the folk-rock era of the late 1960s through early 1970s. The CD featured such classics as John Lennon's "Imagine," Cat Stevens' "Where Do The Children Play," Tommy James' "Crimson & Clover," and the folk classic "Where Have All The Flowers Gone", as well as the title track.
In 2007, Dolly paved new musical ground by forming her own record label, Dolly Records. The label's first release - Backwoods Barbie - debuted at #2 on the Billboard country albums charts and marks Parton's first mainstream country album in 17 years. Parton is touring North America and Europe throughout 2008 in support of her latest release.
1955
A Heartache Tonight
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't even know if I'll see you again
But against your warm body I felt so alive
And you got me over a heartache tonight
My heart was broken, my hurt was deep
I had lost something I wanted to keep
Lookin' for comfort when you caught my eye
And you got me over a heartache tonight
Chorus:
Sweet conversation, a drink and a dance
Led to an evening of making romance
And I don't even care if it's wrong or it's right
'Cause you got me over a heartache tonight
2nd Chorus:
Yes, you got me over a heartache tonight
Stirring up passion brought me back to life
Oh, and it may not last, but who know it just might
But you got me over a heartache tonight
Yes, you got me over a heartache tonight
The lyrics to Dolly Parton's song "A Heartache Tonight" tell the story of a woman who is feeling heartbroken and lost after a relationship ends. She's trying to move on and find comfort, but nothing seems to be helping her heal. That is until she meets someone new. The singer can't say for sure if they are lovers or even friends, but being close to this person makes her feel alive again. The warm-body connection, sweet conversation, a drink and a dance lead the two to making romance. The singer doesn't care if it's wrong or right, what's important is that this person got her over her heartache tonight.
The song is all about finding a new love to help mend a broken heart. It's a powerful message that many people can relate to. Sometimes we need someone new to help us forget about the pain of our past. By opening herself up to a new experience, the singer is able to move on to the next chapter of her life.
This song has a great message and it's delivered through Dolly Parton's powerful and emotional lyrics. It's easy for anyone who has been through a heartbreak to relate to this song and find comfort in its message.
Line by Line Meaning
Can't say we're lovers, can't say we're friends
We don't have a defined relationship, but we have experienced an undeniable connection.
Don't even know if I'll see you again
There is an uncertainty about whether or not we will meet again after this moment.
But against your warm body I felt so alive
Being close to you made me feel invigorated and renewed.
And you got me over a heartache tonight
Your presence and affection helped me move on from a painful experience.
My heart was broken, my hurt was deep
I was still grappling with the pain and sadness of a recent heartbreak.
I had lost something I wanted to keep
I had lost something valuable that I wished I could have held onto.
Lookin' for comfort when you caught my eye
I was searching for solace, but caught a glimpse of you and felt drawn to you.
Chorus: Sweet conversation, a drink and a dance / Led to an evening of making romance / And I don't even care if it's wrong or it's right / 'Cause you got me over a heartache tonight
Our flirtatious conversation, drinks and dancing led to us spending the night together, and I don't care about the morality of it because it helped me forget my heartache.
2nd Chorus: Yes, you got me over a heartache tonight / Stirring up passion brought me back to life / Oh, and it may not last, but who know it just might / But you got me over a heartache tonight / Yes, you got me over a heartache tonight
Being intimate with you made me feel alive again and hopeful for the future. Even though this may not last, I am grateful for the healing you gave me tonight.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DOLLY PARTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Romy K.
on Gypsy Joe And Me
As a matter of fact she's contemplating suicide standing on the bridge, that's how they'll be together again.