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 Lil' Ole Bitty Pissant Count
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ain't nothin' much to see
No drinking allowed, we get a nice quiet crowd, plain as it can be
It's just a piddly squatin' old time country place
Ain't nothing to hide at all
Just lots of good will and maybe one small thrill
But there's nothing dirty going on
Nothing dirty going on
Congress folks from Austin, young boys looking for sin
Now we used to get a lot of rough necks, when the oil boom was high
But pay day would get a little rowdy, thank God the field ran dry
Chorus:
It's just a little bitty pissant country place, nothing much to see
No drinking allowed, we get a nice quiet crowd, plain as it can be
It's just a piddly squatin no time country place, nothing to hide at all
Just lots of good will, and maybe one small thrill, but there's nothing dirty going on
I don't hire no married girl, they're not on the ball
They got homes and husbands, they're not stable at all
You know they don't understand a thing about a proper business day
Now what's the point in opening up the store if you give the goods away
Repeat Chorus
Keep your language clean girls, keep your bedrooms neat
And don't hang around the town cafe and say hi on the street
Mind you P's and Q's and manners, and you don't need no other tools
Cause every girl that lives here knows my special no-no rules
Yea every girl that lives here knows Miss Mona's no-no rules
Ruby, Ray start em!
Beds are not to be wallowed in
That's the kind of thing that big fat lazy hogs do
And it don't make money!
Betrix!
I won't tolerate no tying my telephone with other peoples business
Eloise honey!
And please don't show us no tattoos
No hearts and flowers on your thigh
It's downright tacky
Brands for the cattle and that ain't what we're selling at Miss Mona's
Do you catch my drift?
I pay the food and the rent and the utilities
You keep your mind on your work responsibilities
Don't let your mouth overload your capabilities
And we can get along
Dawn!
Any bad habits you come in with, get rid off right now
Tatty Joe!
I can't stand no chewing gum it looks just like a cow
Lindy Lue!
Any one taking sick leave for to make real sure their sick
And every time you hear that bell...
You better get here double quick
And as for pimps
Pimps are something you don't need
To get your daily business done
Are you listening good?
Keep them leaches and blood suckers of the bathrobes
And I know how to use a gun
And nobody messes with my girls
And any questions you might have about the way I run this place
Don't grip and whine behind my back
Just tell me face to face, I'm open-minded, say it all
Then go upstairs and pack, the door's that way
She pays the food and the rent and the utilities
We keep our mind on our work responsibilities
Don't let your mouth overload your capabilities
And we can get along
Repeat Chorus
It's just a little bitty pissant country place, nothing much to see
No drinking allowed, we get a nice quiet crowd, plain as it can be
It's just a piddly squatin no time country place, nothing to hide at all
Just lots of good will and maybe one small thrill
Just lots of good will and maybe one small thrill
Just lots of good will and maybe one small thrill
But there's nothing dirty going on
Nothing dirty going on
The song "A Lil' Ole Bitty Pissant Country Place" by Dolly Parton tells the story of Miss Mona and her establishment which is a little bitty pissant country place with no drinking allowed. The establishment has a plain and peaceful atmosphere, and nothing dirty goes on there. Mona insists that all her girls keep their manners in check and avoid bad habits that might affect the reputation of the place negatively.
The song portrays life in a small town in Texas, where people come from all walks of life to relax and have fun. Miss Mona is portrayed as a strict yet caring proprietor. The song captures the essence of small-town life and the wholesome values that are cherished in such places.
The lyrics of the song are an indictment of the hypocrisy that exists in a conservative society. The song is a commentary on the moral values of the time, particularly the way of life in the south of the United States.
Line by Line Meaning
It's just a little bitty pissant country place
This place is small and insignificant
Ain't nothin' much to see
There is nothing exciting or remarkable about this place
No drinking allowed, we get a nice quiet crowd, plain as it can be
Alcohol is not allowed, so the crowd is quiet and uneventful
It's just a piddly squatin' old time country place
The place is old-fashioned and unimportant
Ain't nothing to hide at all
There are no secrets or hidden activities going on
Just lots of good will and maybe one small thrill
There is a friendly atmosphere, but not much excitement
But there's nothing dirty going on
There are no illicit or improper activities happening
We get simple farmers, local business men
The customers are ordinary people
Congress folks from Austin, young boys looking for sin
Occasionally, there are politicians and young men seeking thrills
Now we used to get a lot of rough necks, when the oil boom was high
In the past, there were rowdy customers during an oil boom
But pay day would get a little rowdy, thank God the field ran dry
When people got paid, things would get rowdy, but now that the oil is gone, that doesn't happen anymore
I don't hire no married girl, they're not on the ball
She doesn't hire married women because they are not reliable
They got homes and husbands, they're not stable at all
Married women have too many responsibilities and are not dependable employees
You know they don't understand a thing about a proper business day
Married women are not familiar with a proper workday
Now what's the point in opening up the store if you give the goods away
It's a waste of time to run a business if you are not making a profit
Keep your language clean girls, keep your bedrooms neat
The employees are expected to speak politely and keep their living quarters tidy
And don't hang around the town cafe and say hi on the street
Employees should not be socializing and gossiping with people in town
Mind you P's and Q's and manners, and you don't need no other tools
If employees are polite and well-mannered, they don't need anything else to succeed
Cause every girl that lives here knows my special no-no rules
All of the employees are aware of her strict rules
Beds are not to be wallowed in, that's the kind of thing that big fat lazy hogs do
Employees should not be lazy and spend all their time in bed
And it don't make money!
Being lazy doesn't make money for the business
I won't tolerate no tying my telephone with other peoples business
Employees should not be using the phone for personal calls
And please don't show us no tattoos, no hearts and flowers on your thigh
Employees should not have visible tattoos or inappropriate body art
It's downright tacky
It looks bad and unprofessional
Brands for the cattle and that ain't what we're selling at Miss Mona's
The employees are not like cattle that need branding
Do you catch my drift?
Do you understand what I'm trying to say?
I pay the food and the rent and the utilities, You keep your mind on your work responsibilities
The business owner provides basic necessities, so employees should focus on their work duties
Don't let your mouth overload your capabilities
Don't make promises or commitments that you can't fulfill
And we can get along
As long as everyone follows the rules, the business will function well
Any bad habits you come in with, get rid off right now
Employees should eliminate any bad habits they have before starting the job
I can't stand no chewing gum it looks just like a cow
Chewing gum looks unprofessional and sloppy
And every time you hear that bell...
When called, employees should drop whatever they are doing and come immediately
You better get here double quick
Employees should arrive as quickly as possible
And as for pimps, pimps are something you don't need, to get your daily business done
Pimps are not necessary for running the business
Keep them leaches and blood suckers of the bathrobes
Don't let people take advantage of the business or the employees
And I know how to use a gun
The business owner is capable of defending herself and her employees
And nobody messes with my girls
The business owner will protect her employees from harm
And any questions you might have about the way I run this place, Don't grip and whine behind my back, Just tell me face to face, I'm open-minded, say it all
If employees have questions or concerns, they should speak directly to the business owner
Then go upstairs and pack, the door's that way
If employees don't like the rules or the way the business is run, they can leave
Just lots of good will and maybe one small thrill
The business is friendly and welcoming, but not very exciting
Nothing dirty going on
There are no illicit activities happening at the business
Contributed by Brayden H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@HorrorMetalMaestroRedrusty66
"Don't gripe and whine behind my back, tell me face to face, I'm open minded, say it all then go upstairs and pack....the door's that-a-way!"...one of the best lines in movie and music history.
@isabelllockheart5562
This movie is so old and yet here in 2016 I hope I speak for others when I say this movie is still AMAZING! And I love it!
@spreadthelove77
isabell lockheart Absolutely ! 👌🏼
@jacquelinekeight-cunliffe7078
I've just watched this movie with my daughters who are in their 30's and into rap music but they absolutely love this movie and more so all the songs .
@bklynomar1377
Dolly looked like an absolute goddess in this movie
@twintina17
Yeeeaahh baby lol Dolly is always gonna be my idol she is sooo pretty when she was thick and thin! This movie is the bom n I'm a country music fan so my Queen Dolly is definitely my favorite singer! I always loves the way how this woman dresses,shapes, sounds, looks, and acts! :)
@jiwbink
BOMB
@franniecrescenzo-nagle1005
WOW I thought I was the only one who absolutely loved this movie & soundtrack Dolly is the best shes got an amazing voice I also loved the movie & soundtrack to Grease 2 not as much as the original but i did love that movie
@babd7176
I LOVE BOTH MOVIES AND SOUNDTRACKS.
@TheSeekerBabe
Corey, this was actually pretty tame even by 80s standards. Compare to grittier, older Drama or Horror films like Rosemary's Baby, Farenheit 451, or Soylent Green. Even the Rocky Horror Picture Show had already done a lot of the exact same type of thing you see in this film. It was old hat, but still fun.