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 Country Place
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
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
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
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
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
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 is a satirical commentary on the small-town values and attitudes prevalent in traditional American society. The song portrays a small, quiet, remote town with nothing much to see or do, except for a few local businesses and some simple farmers. The lyrics highlight the restrained and conservative nature of the town, with no drinking allowed and a focus on good manners and clean living.
The song also touches upon the theme of female empowerment, as the proprietor of the business, Miss Mona, lays down the rules for running the establishment and managing the girls who work there. She sets a high standard for behavior, putting an emphasis on professionalism, cleanliness, and respectability. She also warns against the pitfalls of married women and pimps. The lyrics demonstrate that women are capable of running a successful business on their own terms.
On a deeper level, the song is a commentary on the values and attitudes of traditional Southern culture in the United States, which is often viewed as being rather conservative and slow to change. The song uses humor and satire to poke fun at these old-fashioned values and attitudes, while also acknowledging their importance and relevance in today's society.
Overall, "A Lil' Ole Bitty Pissant Country Place" is an amusing and insightful critique of small-town life and traditional values in the American South.
Line by Line Meaning
It's just a little bitty pissant country place
This is a small and unremarkable rural establishment
Ain't nothin' much to see
There's not much to look at here
No drinking allowed, we get a nice quiet crowd, plain as it can be
Alcohol isn't permitted, but it ensures a peaceful and uneventful atmosphere
It's just a piddly squatin' old time country place
This is a humbly built and traditional establishment
Ain't nothing to hide at all
There are no secrets or ulterior motives
Just lots of good will and maybe one small thrill
There's plenty of kindness and perhaps a bit of excitement
But there's nothing dirty going on
There's no immoral or unlawful behavior taking place
We get simple farmers, local business men
This establishment attracts regular, ordinary customers
Congress folks from Austin, young boys looking for sin
Politicians and curious young men also visit occasionally
Now we used to get a lot of rough necks, when the oil boom was high
Previously, there were more rough and rowdy customers due to the oil industry
But pay day would get a little rowdy, thank God the field ran dry
However, once the oil business declined, the customers also became more tame
I don't hire no married girl, they're not on the ball
Married women aren't considered for employment because they're not reliable enough
They got homes and husbands, they're not stable at all
Their focus is divided between their personal and professional lives, leading to instability
You know they don't understand a thing about a proper business day
Married women are not capable of adhering to a work schedule properly
Now what's the point in opening up the store if you give the goods away
There's no benefit in running a business if the employees are not dedicated and productive
Keep your language clean girls, keep your bedrooms neat
Employees are expected to maintain their language and living spaces to a high standard
And don't hang around the town cafe and say hi on the street
Employees are discouraged from fraternizing with outsiders in public places
Mind you P's and Q's and manners, and you don't need no other tools
Good behavior and manners are the only necessary tools for success here
Cause every girl that lives here knows my special no-no rules
Employees are expected to be familiar with the establishment's unique code of conduct
Beds are not to be wallowed in
Employees are not permitted to use their beds for anything other than sleeping
That's the kind of thing that big fat lazy hogs do
This behavior is associated with laziness and lack of discipline
And it don't make money!
This behavior is not conducive to a profitable business
I won't tolerate no tying my telephone with other peoples business
Employees are not allowed to use the business phone for personal matters
And please don't show us no tattoos
Tattoos are not considered appropriate for employees to display
No hearts and flowers on your thigh
Specifically, tattoos with romantic or erotic imagery are unacceptable
It's downright tacky
Such displays are considered cheap and tasteless
Brands for the cattle and that ain't what we're selling at Miss Mona's
Tattoos are aligned with the practice of marking livestock, which is not relevant to this business
Do you catch my drift?
Do you understand what I'm saying?
I pay the food and the rent and the utilities
The business owner covers the expenses for basic necessities
You keep your mind on your work responsibilities
Employees should prioritize their duties over personal matters
Don't let your mouth overload your capabilities
Don't promise or commit to tasks beyond your abilities
And we can get along
If these guidelines are followed, we can have a harmonious relationship
Any bad habits you come in with, get rid off right now
Employees are expected to abandon any previous negative behaviors immediately
I can't stand no chewing gum it looks just like a cow
Chewing gum is deemed unprofessional and unsightly
Any one taking sick leave for to make real sure their sick
Employees are expected to only request sick leave when absolutely necessary
And every time you hear that bell... You better get here double quick
The sound of the bell signals that there is work to be done, and employees should be prompt
And as for pimps
Pimps are not relevant to this business
Pimps are something you don't need to get your daily business done
Pimps do not have any relationship to the daily operations of the establishment
Are you listening good?
Are you paying attention?
Keep them leaches and blood suckers of the bathrobes
Undesirable or parasitic individuals are not welcome here
And I know how to use a gun
The business owner is capable of defending the premises if necessary
And nobody messes with my girls
The business owner will protect her employees from harm or danger
And any questions you might have about the way I run this place
If you have any inquiries about the establishment's practices
Don't grip and whine behind my back
Don't complain or criticize covertly
Just tell me face to face, I'm open-minded, say it all
Be honest and direct with the business owner, who is receptive to feedback
Then go upstairs and pack, the door's that way
If you're unhappy with the establishment's practices, you're welcome to leave
Just lots of good will and maybe one small thrill
Despite adhering to strict policies, there's still room for enjoyable experiences
But there's nothing dirty going on
Despite any excitement, all behavior is lawful and moral
Contributed by Elliot Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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.