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
Always The First Time
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I've never danced to the songs on a jukebox or held someone that wasn't mine
But there's always the first time and if you don't change
Then I guess the first time can't be arranged can't be arranged
[ banjo ]
Now I've never dressed for the eyes of the stranger to sow seeds of lust in his mind
And I've never walked down backroad of temptation to leave dirty footprints behind
In Dolly Parton's song "Always The First Time," the lyrics delve into the concept of innocence and the never-before-experienced moments in life. The singer of the song confesses that they have never ventured into the world of barrooms, never savored the taste of wine, and never engaged in the joy of dancing to songs on a jukebox. They never had the opportunity to hold someone who wasn't their own.
However, the lyrics suggest that there will always be a first time for everything. If one remains unwilling to change or step outside their comfort zone, that first time may never occur. The song acknowledges that life is full of these new experiences that can be both exciting and frightening. It becomes clear that the singer has never dressed provocatively and sought the attention of strangers or succumbed to the temptation that might lead to regrets.
The underlying message of the song is that life is about taking risks and embracing those first-time experiences. It is a reminder that in order to grow, one must be open to new opportunities and be willing to leave a mark, even if it comes with dirty footprints.
Line by Line Meaning
Now I've never stepped through the doors of a barroom or tasted the flavor of wine
I have never experienced the thrill of going inside a bar and indulging in the taste of different wines.
And I've never danced to the songs on a jukebox or held someone that wasn't mine
I have never enjoyed the pleasure of dancing to the music on a jukebox or being in the arms of someone who was not committed to me.
But there's always the first time and if you don't change
However, there is always a possibility for a first-time experience, especially if you are willing to make a change.
Then I guess the first time can't be arranged can't be arranged
If you are resistant to change and unwilling to take a step towards new experiences, then it becomes impossible to create that first-time opportunity.
[ banjo ]
Instrumental interlude
Now I've never dressed for the eyes of the stranger to sow seeds of lust in his mind
I have never intentionally dressed provocatively to attract the attention of a stranger and ignite their sexual desires.
And I've never walked down backroad of temptation to leave dirty footprints behind
I have never succumbed to the allure of temptation and engaged in actions that would leave a negative mark on my conscience.
But there's always the first time...
Nonetheless, there will always be an opportunity for a first-time experience, no matter how cautious or inexperienced one might be.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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.