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 Long as I Live
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Cause I feel I've got to move
(Though I'm goin', goin', I'll be coming home soon)
Long as I see the light
(Pack my bag and let's get movin')
'Cause I'm bound to drift a while
(Well I'm goin', goin', you don't have to worry, no)
(That flame)
Guess I've got that old travelin' bone
'Cause this feelin' won't leave me alone
(But I won't, I won't be losin' my way, no, no)
Long as I see the light
(Yeah) yeah, (yeah) yeah, (yeah) oh, yeah
Put a candle in the window
'Cause I've really got to move
Though I'm goin', goin', I'll be coming home soon
(Long as I see the light)
Just as long as I see the light
Long as I see the light
(Long as I see the light) see the light, oh
(Long as I see the light)
I'm comin' home, I'm comin' home
(Long as I see the light) see the light
(Long as I see the light)
(Yeah)
The lyrics to Dolly Parton and John Fogerty's song "Long As I Can See The Light" focus on the theme of restlessness and the longing for home. The lines "Put a candle in the window 'Cause I feel I've got to move" indicate a sense of feeling trapped or stagnant in one place and the desire for change or exploration. The candle symbolizes the hope and guidance that will lead the singer back home.
The refrain "Long as I see the light" reflects the belief that as long as there is a guiding light, whether it's in a window or within oneself, the singer will find their way back home. It hints at the possibility of the singer being lost or unsure of their path, but as long as there is light, they will not lose their way.
The lyrics also mention having a "travelin' bone" and a feeling that won't leave the singer alone. This suggests a deep restlessness and wanderlust within them, constantly urging them to keep moving. However, in the midst of their journeys, they assure themselves and their loved ones that they will find their way back home, no matter how far they drift.
Ultimately, the lyrics convey a sense of longing for home and the comfort it brings. The repetition of "Just as long as I see the light" emphasizes the importance of having a sense of direction and purpose, especially when feeling lost or disconnected. Home serves as a metaphor for stability, belonging, and the place where one's heart truly lies. The lyrics suggest that no matter where the singer roams, as long as they have that inner light and connection to home, they will ultimately return.
Line by Line Meaning
Put a candle in the window
Symbolize that the singer is leaving and wants their loved ones to wait for their return
'Cause I feel I've got to move
Express the strong internal urge to go and explore new places
(Though I'm goin', goin', I'll be coming home soon)
Acknowledging that despite leaving, the singer will eventually come back
Long as I see the light
As long as there is hope and clarity guiding the way, the artist will continue their journey
(Pack my bag and let's get movin')
Prepare for the journey ahead and get ready to depart
'Cause I'm bound to drift a while
Expect to wander and explore different places for some time
(Well I'm goin', goin', you don't have to worry, no)
Reassuring someone that they shouldn't be concerned about the singer's departure
(That flame)
Referring to the candle mentioned earlier, a symbol of hope and home
Guess I've got that old travelin' bone
The artist has an inherent desire to travel and experience new adventures
'Cause this feelin' won't leave me alone
The longing to explore and roam persists and cannot be ignored
(But I won't, I won't be losin' my way, no, no)
Assuring that despite the wandering, the singer will not get lost and will find their path
Long as I see the light
As long as there is guidance and clarity, the artist will stay on track
(Yeah) yeah, (yeah) yeah, (yeah) oh, yeah
An expression of enthusiasm and affirmation
I'm comin' home, I'm comin' home
Reaffirming the intention to return home eventually
(Long as I see the light) see the light, oh
Reiterating the importance of having illumination and direction
(Long as I see the light)
Continuing to emphasize the necessity of having clarity and hope
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: John Cameron Fogerty
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@pennynmarkbennett982
my mum played this wen I wos a child in tge seventies n I play dolly now just love her n this son is appropriate for the way I'm feeling at this moment xx
@user-hu6nm8gw2c
Beautiful love ya always xxx
@recordplayer1969
This is my most favorite Dolly Parton song EVER!!!! Thanks so much for posting it....
@elizabethfreyajackson9397
Brother
0:53,
Sungto to my brother., who I love. ❤️.
@crydun2004
love her vulnerability in this song..