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
Baby Sister
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I lose my mind from worrying over you
In a bar room filled with people all higher than a steeple
But I know why you do the things you do
And I curse the man that made you what you are today
I hope he dies a thousand times a thousand ways
Your eyes are filled with tears, sis let's get out of here
And I curse the man that made you what you are today
I hope he dies a thousand times a thousand ways
Your eyes are filled with tears, sis let's get out of here
'Cause I love you, baby sister, let's go home
'Cause I love you, baby sister, let's go home
In Dolly Parton's song "Baby Sister", she expresses the profound concern she has for her sister who has ended up in a bar filled with people high on drugs. She expresses how painful it is to see her sister in such a state, and how she worries about her all the time. Dolly Parton curses the man that made her sister what she is today, wishing for his demise over and over again. She empathizes with her sister and understands why she's ended up in the same place once again. However, she cannot bear to see her sister in pain and wants to get her out of there as soon as possible.
This song reflects the harsh realities of life and how it can impact family members. It also emphasizes the importance of standing by one's family even when they may have made some wrong choices. Dolly's love for her sister is palpable in the song, and it is a reminder of the importance of love and support, no matter what.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby sister, what a waste to see you in this place
It's heartbreaking to see my younger sister stuck in this situation
I lose my mind from worrying over you
I'm always anxious about your safety and well-being
In a bar room filled with people all higher than a steeple
You're surrounded by drunk people who don't care about you
But I know why you do the things you do
I understand that you're trying to cope with your struggles in your own way
And I curse the man that made you what you are today
I blame the person who hurt you and caused you to turn to this lifestyle
I hope he dies a thousand times a thousand ways
I wish the worst upon him for his actions towards you
Your eyes are filled with tears, sis let's get out of here
I can see that you're hurting and I want us to leave this place
'Cause I love you, baby sister, let's go home
I care about you and I want to take care of you
'Cause I love you, baby sister, let's go home
I want to get you out of harm's way and bring you home to safety
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Shirl Milete
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.