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
Anything's Better Than Nothing
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I have to agree that I don't seem like me I'm havin' a ball with my heart
Anything's better than nothing nothing's not too much to lose
Anything's better than nothing nothing's what I have with you
I've got to admit that it hurts me I don't like to fight or to fuss
But now you and me are just happy we're free and everyone's crying but us
Anything's better than nothing...
It really must be disappointment to see love and dream turn to smoke
I once thought that love made a home
Anything's better than nothing...
Nothing's what I have with you...
In the lyrics of "Anything's Better Than Nothing" by Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner, the singer reflects on a past relationship where friends express sympathy over the separation. The singer acknowledges the sadness of being apart but also finds a certain freedom and joy in being alone, suggesting that sometimes being on one's own can be a better alternative than staying in a relationship that may not be fulfilling. The lyrics convey a sense of self-realization and empowerment as the singer learns to have fun and enjoy their own company, realizing that anything is indeed better than feeling trapped and unfulfilled in a relationship.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the idea that having something, even if it's not perfect, is better than having nothing at all. The singer suggests that the feeling of loss and emptiness experienced after a breakup is still preferable to staying in a relationship that lacks love and substance. This sentiment highlights the importance of self-worth and the idea that settling for less than what one deserves is ultimately more damaging than being alone and rebuilding one's life.
The lyrics also touch upon the pain of realizing that a relationship has led to disappointment and shattered dreams. The singer laments the transition from a place where love and hopes existed to a reality where those feelings have turned to dust. The image of teardrops falling from the eyes of friends further emphasizes the sorrow and heartache that often accompany the end of a relationship, highlighting the emotional toll that such experiences can take on individuals.
In the final lines of the song, the singer acknowledges the bittersweet nature of love and relationships, recognizing that sometimes it is better to part ways and find one's own happiness rather than holding onto a love that has faded. The repeated refrain of "nothing's what I have with you" drives home the idea that lingering in a relationship devoid of love and connection is a lonely and painful experience. Ultimately, the lyrics of "Anything's Better Than Nothing" convey a message of resilience, self-discovery, and the realization that choosing to be alone and free is sometimes the best decision one can make for their own well-being.
Line by Line Meaning
Friends ask how I'll get along without you they say it's so sad we're apart
People wonder how I'll manage without you, expressing sadness at our separation
I have to agree that I don't seem like me I'm havin' a ball with my heart
I admit I don't feel like myself, but I'm enjoying being free and following my heart
Anything's better than nothing nothing's not too much to lose
Having something, even if it's not much, is preferable to having nothing at all
Anything's better than nothing nothing's what I have with you
Even a small amount is better than having nothing, which is what I have with you
I've got to admit that it hurts me I don't like to fight or to fuss
I have to confess that it pains me, I don't enjoy conflict or arguments
But now you and me are just happy we're free and everyone's crying but us
Despite others being saddened by our breakup, you and I are content because we are no longer together
Anything's better than nothing...
Something is better than nothing...
It really must be disappointment to see love and dream turn to smoke
It must be disheartening to watch love and dreams disappear like smoke
I can't blame my friends when their teardrops begin I once thought that love made a home
I understand why my friends cry, as I too believed that love created a safe haven
Nothing's what I have with you...
I have nothing with you...
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: WILSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Great of the great soung