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
All I Want for Christmas Is You
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Without sounding all mushy and romantic (mmhmm)
I kind of like mussy and romantic (you do?) (Mmhmm)
Yeah, especially this time of year (mmhmm)
Well woohoo (mmhmm)
Woohoo is right, I love you Dolly (mmhmm)
Always have, always will (mmhmm)
Aw, that's so sweet (mmhmm)
That was so mussy and romantic and all?
Also, what am I gonna get you for Christmas?
Well, all I want for Christmas is you (all I want for Christmas)
Well, I was thinking the same thing too
I have always wanted to sing a duet with you
So you can go first, ah, right after me (you)
I can't believe this is happening right now (ooh aho ho)
I don't want a lot for Christmas
There's just one thing I need (what's that?) (And I)
I don't care about the presents (ah ah)
Underneath the Christmas tree (I see)
I don't need to hang my stockin'
There upon the fireplace (mmhm)
Santa Clause won't make me happy (ah ah)
With a toy on Christmas day
I just want you for my own (mmhmm)
More than you could ever know (mmhmm)
Make my wish come true (mmhmm)
All I want for Christmas is you
You ooh, baby
Jimmy
I won't ask for much this Christmas
I won't even wish for snow (no snow?) (And I)
I just wanna keep on waitin'
Underneath the mistletoe (kiss me)
I won't make a list and sent it
To the North Pole for Saint Nick (mmhmm)
I won't even stay awake (I)
To hear those magic reindeer click (ah ha)(aw)
'Cause I just want you here tonight (mmhmm)
Holdin' on to me so tight (mmhmm)
What more can I do?
Baby, all I want for Christmas is you
All I really, really want you, baby (you, baby)
I got this
And all the lights are shinning (ooh)
So brightly everywhere (ooh)
And the sound of children's (ooh)
Laughter fills the air (ooh)
And everyone is singing (ah ah)
I hear those sleigh bells ringing (ah ah)
Santa won't you bring me
The one I really need
Please bring my baby to me quickly (please)
I don't want a lot for Christmas
This is all I'm asking for (and I)
I just wanna see my baby (I)
Standing right outside my door
I just want you for my own (ooh ooh)
More than you could ever know (ooh ooh)
Make my wish come true (ooh ooh)
Baby, all I want for Christmas is you
Baby, all I want for Christmas is you
I just want you, baby (want you, baby)
I'm gonna getcha, getcha (all I want for Christmas)
I'm gonna getcha, getcha baby, baby (you got me, you got me) (ooh)
You got me baby
All I want for Christmas (all I want for Christmas is you, you)
All I want
All I want is you, baby (ooh you, baby)
All I want for Christmas
All I want for Christmas
Is you (ooh)
This is the best present ever
Oh, you sexy boy
Merry Christmas Dolly
In Dolly Parton & Jimmy Fallon's song "All I Want For Christmas Is You," the lyrics suggest that the simple things in life, such as being with the ones we love, are the most important. The song is a playful exchange between the two singers, with Jimmy expressing his affection for Dolly and asking what he can get her for Christmas. Dolly responds by saying "all I want for Christmas is you," which Jimmy agrees to, then they both sing about how being together is the greatest gift. The lyrics convey a sense of joy, love, and appreciation for the people in our lives.
The song was inspired by Mariah Carey's 1994 hit "All I Want For Christmas Is You," which has become a holiday classic. Dolly and Jimmy wanted to put their own spin on the song and create a fun duet that people could enjoy during the holiday season. The song was released as part of Dolly's 2020 Christmas album, "A Holly Dolly Christmas."
Line by Line Meaning
Hey jimmy, I don't know how to say this
Without sounding all mushy and romantic (mmhmm)
I kind of like mussy and romantic (you do?) (Mmhmm)
Yeah, especially this time of year (mmhmm)
Well woohoo (mmhmm)
Dolly says she likes being romantic this time of the year, and she is excited about it
Woohoo is right, I love you Dolly (mmhmm)
Always have, always will (mmhmm)
Aw, that's so sweet (mmhmm)
Now what was it you going to say (make my wish come true)
That was so mussy and romantic and all?
Also, what am I gonna get you for Christmas?
Jimmy confesses his love for Dolly and asks what she wants for Christmas and what he could give her
Well, all I want for Christmas is you (all I want for Christmas)
Well, I was thinking the same thing too
I have always wanted to sing a duet with you
So you can go first, ah, right after me (you)
I can't believe this is happening right now (ooh aho ho)
Dolly says she wants Jimmy's presence as a gift for Christmas, and they decide to sing a duet together in excitement
I don't want a lot for Christmas
There's just one thing I need (what's that?) (And I)
I don't care about the presents (ah ah)
Underneath the Christmas tree (I see)
Dolly mentions she doesn't want anything besides the one thing she needs, which is Jimmy, and says she doesn't care about gifts
I don't need to hang my stockin'
There upon the fireplace (mmhm)
Santa Clause won't make me happy (ah ah)
With a toy on Christmas day
Dolly says she doesn't need stockings or toys from Santa since none of those things make her happy
I just want you for my own (mmhmm)
More than you could ever know (mmhmm)
Make my wish come true (mmhmm)
All I want for Christmas is you
You ooh, baby
Dolly expresses how much she wants Jimmy and only him, and asks him to make her wish come true
Jimmy
I won't ask for much this Christmas
I won't even wish for snow (no snow?) (And I)
I just wanna keep on waitin'
Underneath the mistletoe (kiss me)
I won't make a list and sent it
To the North Pole for Saint Nick (mmhmm)
I won't even stay awake (I)
To hear those magic reindeer click (ah ha)(aw)
Jimmy says he doesn't need anything but Dolly this Christmas, and he wants to spend time with her under the mistletoe waiting for a kiss
'Cause I just want you here tonight (mmhmm)
Holdin' on to me so tight (mmhmm)
What more can I do?
Baby, all I want for Christmas is you
All I really, really want you, baby (you, baby)
Jimmy says all he really wants for Christmas is to hold Dolly tight and never let her go, expressing his feelings even more
I got this
And all the lights are shinnin' (ooh)
So brightly everywhere (ooh)
And the sound of children's (ooh)
Laughter fills the air (ooh)
And everyone is singing (ah ah)
I hear those sleigh bells ringing (ah ah)
Santa won't you bring me
The one I really need
Please bring my baby to me quickly (please)
Dolly talks about the Christmas ambiance filled with lights, children's laughter, and carols, and then asks Santa to bring her Jimmy since he is the one she needs the most
I don't want a lot for Christmas
This is all I'm asking for (and I)
I just wanna see my baby (I)
Standing right outside my door
I just want you for my own (ooh ooh)
More than you could ever know (ooh ooh)
Make my wish come true (ooh ooh)
Baby, all I want for Christmas is you
Baby, all I want for Christmas is you
I just want you, baby (want you, baby)
I'm gonna getcha, getcha (all I want for Christmas)
I'm gonna getcha, getcha baby, baby (you got me, you got me) (ooh)
You got me baby
All I want for Christmas (all I want for Christmas is you, you)
All I want
All I want is you, baby (ooh you, baby)
Dolly reiterates her desire to see Jimmy standing outside her door, stating how much she wants him by her side. She also repeats that all she wants for Christmas is him
This is the best present ever
Oh, you sexy boy
Merry Christmas Dolly
Jimmy says being able to sing with Dolly is the best present ever and compliments her. He then wishes Dolly a Merry Christmas
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Mariah Carey, Walter N. Afanasieff
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Phoenix Kokoro
one of the greatest songwriters of all time paying tribute to another one of the greatest songwriters of all time, legendary
Anne Day
@Kenneth Blackstock yes, Walter AND Mariah. Both of them. You're correct.
Kenneth Blackstock
she sing it..wrote All I want for Xmas?
Mariah Carey
Walter Afanasieff
Tingen Chen
YES!!!!!!!
Jamez EmeraldAutumn
In a world full of hate bitterness and violence All I want is people to view the world like Dolly does.... She is such a wonderful human being and I'm so happy she's graced us with her gift in my lifetime... The circle of love song BETTER BE ON THIS ALBUM DOLLY! I will always love u girl! Much Love from Texas!
Kalim432
It is
𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐞𝐬
Totally agree with you!
Matthew Williams
I'm 22 and dolly is one of my favourite singers. She's brilliant!!
Amelia Rappell
I'm 17 and she is one of my artists
Farfalla
I'm 13 :)