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 Soon as I Touched Him
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Shining like the sun
And the way his eyes burned into mine
I knew he must be the one
Oh, he drew me in like a magnet does
So I couldn't pull away
But the kind of lovin' that I gave to him
Oh, as soon as I touched him
Soon as I touched him I felt like a woman
And the feelin' made me close my eyes
Soon as I touched I was born again
An' I heard myself cryin' like a new born baby cries
He told me what I meant to him
Swore that I was sent to him
All my lovin' went to him
Now he's gone, oh, he's gone
Now I hide myself from the light of day
So no one else can see
A part of him that I can't forget
That's growin' deep inside of me
Oh, as soon as I touched him
Soon as I touched him I felt like a woman
And the feelin' made me close my eyes
Soon as I touched I was born again
An' I heard myself cryin' like our new born baby cries
Soon as I touched him
As soon as I touched him I felt like a woman
And the feelin' made me close my eyes
Soon as I touched him
As soon as I touched him
Dolly Parton's "As Soon as I Touched Him" is a song that takes listeners on a journey of an intense romantic encounter. Parton sings about the moment she meets a man who immediately captures her attention with his irresistible charm. She describes how she could not pull away from him and how her love for him never faded. The song is a testament to the power of touch and the impact it can have on a person's life. The lyrics are rich in imagery and emotion, inviting listeners to join the sensual world of love and passion.
The song's title and the opening line, "He came to me like a bright idea," set the tone and establish the core theme of the song: the transformative power of touch. Parton sings about how she knew the moment she laid eyes on him that he was the one. His eyes burned into hers, and she was drawn to him like a "magnet." She describes the impact of her touch on him, and how it made her feel like a "woman."
Throughout the song, Parton sings about the intensity of their relationship and how his presence in her life changed her. He swore that she was sent to him, and she gave him all her love. However, the song takes a dark turn as Parton reveals that he is no longer with her, and she's left with a part of him that she can't forget. She hides from the light of day as she cherishes the memory of their time together.
In conclusion, "As Soon as I Touched Him" is a beautiful and powerful song that captures the transformative power of love and the impact of touch. Parton's lyrics convey the passion, emotion, and intensity of romantic love.
Line by Line Meaning
He came to me like a bright idea
He appeared in my life suddenly and brilliantly, like a fresh and exciting thought.
Shining like the sun
He radiated warmth and brightness, illuminating and enhancing everything around him.
And the way his eyes burned into mine
The intensity with which he looked at me felt overwhelming and powerful.
I knew he must be the one
It became clear to me in that moment that this was the person I had been waiting for and the one I wanted to be with.
Oh, he drew me in like a magnet does
His pull on me was irresistible and compelling, like the force of a magnet.
So I couldn't pull away
Despite any reservations or doubts I may have had, I found myself unable to resist the attraction and pull toward him.
But the kind of lovin' that I gave to him
The love that I offered and shared with him was a deep and meaningful expression of my emotions and feelings.
I'm not ashamed to say
I feel no shame in admitting the intensity and depth of my emotions and attachment to him.
Oh, as soon as I touched him
From the instant I made physical contact with him, I experienced a profound sense of connection and intimacy.
Soon as I touched him I felt like a woman
That sense of connection and intimacy allowed me to fully embrace and embody my femininity, feeling powerful and confident in my identity as a woman.
And the feelin' made me close my eyes
The intensity of my emotions and physical sensations was so overwhelming that I involuntarily closed my eyes to let myself fully experience and process this profound moment.
Soon as I touched I was born again
That feeling of connection and intimacy was transformative, allowing me to shed my past self and be reborn into a new, more complete version of myself.
An' I heard myself cryin' like a new born baby cries
The depth of my emotions overwhelmed me to the point of tears, much like a newborn child cries at the intensity of their first experiences in the world.
He told me what I meant to him
He shared with me the depth of his emotions and the significance that our relationship held for him.
Swore that I was sent to him
He deeply believed that our encounter was destined and that I was meant to be in his life.
All my lovin' went to him
I gave my full and complete love to him, holding nothing back and putting all of my heart into the relationship.
Now he's gone, oh, he's gone
Despite our deep connection and love, our relationship has ended and he is no longer in my life.
Now I hide myself from the light of day
I keep to myself and try to avoid being seen or heard, hiding away from the rest of the world and any reminders of our time together.
So no one else can see
I keep my emotions and grief hidden from others, preferring to suffer in private rather than sharing my pain with anyone else.
A part of him that I can't forget
Despite my attempts to move on and forget, there are certain parts of him and our relationship that still hold a deep and meaningful place in my heart and mind.
That's growin' deep inside of me
These memories and emotions continue to develop and deepen within me, shaping who I am and how I see the world.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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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.