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
As If
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All my troubles, all my thing
And I would fly to a place of comfort
Heaven knows I need a change
If I had wings, Lord give me wings
Oh I've had my share of sorrow
Walked alone, a lonesome road
If I had wings I'd make it so
One cannot predict the future
One cannot undo the past
But we can make the present useful
Build a future that will last
If I had wings I'd fly away from
All my troubles, all my wounds
And I would fly 'till I found freedom
If I had wings I'd up and go home
If I had wings, Lord give me wings
If I had wings I'd fly away from
All my troubles, all my wounds
And I would fly 'till I found freedom
If I had wings I'd up and go home
If I had wings, Lord give me wings
If I had wings, oh if I had wings
If I had wings, oh Lord just give me wings
If I had wings, if had wings I'd make a change
If I had wings, if I had wings
If I had wings, if I had wings
The song "If" by Dolly Parton is a poignant and hopeful tune about a person wishing to escape their current situation and find comfort in a better place. The title itself suggests conditional thinking and potentiality, as the singer imagines what they would do "If [they] had wings." The lines "I would fly away from all my troubles, all my wounds, and I would fly 'til I found freedom" reveals the singer's desire to leave behind their painful past and present, and seek a more peaceful and fulfilling life.
The second verse of the song is reflective of the past, where the singer acknowledges their journey through sorrow and loneliness along a "lonesome road." Despite this, they still strive for a better tomorrow and are determined to make a change. The lines "One cannot predict the future, one cannot undo the past, but we can make the present useful, build a future that will last" highlights the importance of resilience and hope in the face of difficult circumstances, encouraging listeners to not let the past define them but to embrace the present and look to the future.
Overall, "If" is a song about persistence, optimism, and the human desire for change and freedom. Its message is universal and relatable, serving as a reminder that no matter how challenging life may be, there is always hope for a brighter tomorrow.
Line by Line Meaning
If I had wings I would fly away from
If I had the ability to escape from all the things that are causing me distress and suffering, I would take the opportunity to do so
All my troubles, all my thing
All of the issues and difficulties that plague me
And I would fly to a place of comfort
I would soar to a location that is serene and soothing
Heaven knows I need a change
I require a transformation in my life, and it seems as if only divine beings are aware of this necessity
If I had wings, Lord give me wings
If I was bestowed with the privilege of soaring through the sky, I would request the assistance of a higher power to make it happen
Oh I’ve had my share of sorrow
I have experienced sufficient amounts of grief and melancholy
Walked alone, a lonesome road
Journeyed through a solitary path devoid of companionship and support
I could use a new tomorrow
I am in dire need of a fresh start that brings with it optimism and hope
If I had wings I’d make it so
If I had the ability to fly, I would be able to create the new beginning that I desire
One cannot predict the future
It is impossible to know what fate has in store for us beforehand
One cannot undo the past
What has already happened, cannot be altered or reversed
But we can make the present useful
However, we have the ability to make the most of the current moment and utilize it effectively
Build a future that will last
By taking action in the present, we can create a better tomorrow that is enduring and stable
And I would fly 'till I found freedom
I would continue to soar through the sky until I discovered a sense of liberation from all of my problems and predicaments
If I had wings I'd up and go home
If I could fly, I would immediately return to my place of familiarity and comfort
If I had wings, Lord give me wings
If I was bestowed with wings, I would request assistance from a higher power to make my flight possible
If I had wings, oh if I had wings
If only I had the capability to soar like a bird
If I had wings, oh Lord just give me wings
All I ask is for the gift of flight; a chance to escape from all my troubles
If I had wings, if had wings I'd make a change
If I was gifted with the ability to fly, I would take the initiative to bring about a positive transformation in my life
If I had wings, if I had wings
If I possessed wings that could take me places, what a different life I would have
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DOLLY PARTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@lucygreene6401
Love Your Version Dolly!!!
@zayareum
just adore this song
@TaliPolk
This is so funky I love it. Alien cowgirl dreaming about her earth cowboy.
@auntvesuvi3872
💜 #DollyParton #Bread #If
@craigbrown9029
...and your trying to tell me that you don't deserve the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nod, when you got songs like this out there. All I can say is I'm glad they didn't listen to you and you got it anyway cause I'm telling you with songs like this and many others over the years, is that you DO deserve it. I love it when you kick the notch up a tad like Great Balls of Fire and The Bargain Store not to mention Stairway to heaven. So please my dear, your fans do believe that you are worthy.
@craigbrown9029
Another Dolly flavoured cover.MMMM yum.
@JohanLebbing
Maybe it`s me but, if this song stayed slow, i would even more like it. But after one minute it goes to a bardance song.
@j.w.78
:))
@anthonychandler1499
Ajchandler the songs make me cry when I here the song called halo 😇 an 🎷 song
@anthonychandler1499
Thanks for that information