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
Barbara on Your Mind
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Last night you called me Barbara
As you lay fast asleep
And although I'm not Barbara
You wanted me to be
You whispered words I haven't heard
In such a long, long time
With Barbara on your mind
Sometimes I find traces of her kisses on your skin
And strands of chestnut hair
That say you've been with her again
Little traces of her that it breaks my heart to find
Last night you called me darlin'
With Barbara on your mind
With Barbara on your mind
You held me in your arms so tight
And lying there so close to you
I cried until day light
And though you think that I don't know
I'm really not that blind
Last night you said I love you
With Barbara on your mind
Last night you called me darlin'
With Barbara on your mind
In this song, Dolly Parton sings about a painful realization that her lover still has feelings for his ex-girlfriend, Barbara, despite being in a current relationship with her. The lyrics describe the moment when the lover calls Dolly "Barbara" in his sleep, showing that the ex-girlfriend is still on his mind. Dolly is hurt by the presence of Barbara in their relationship and notices little reminders of her, like the strands of hair he leaves behind. She feels unloved and unwanted when he calls her Barbara and struggles to cope with his ongoing attachment to her. Despite these insecurities, Dolly remains in the relationship and cries herself to sleep while being held tightly by her lover.
The song is a raw and emotional exploration of jealousy, insecurity, and the complexities of love triangles. It highlights the pain of being the "rebound" in a relationship and how lingering feelings for an ex can impact the current partner's self-esteem. Dolly's lyrics suggest that sometimes, even when you are in a healthy and loving relationship, the past can still have a strong hold on your emotions.
Line by Line Meaning
Last night you called me Barbara
Last night, you addressed me as 'Barbara', who is another woman, while you were fast asleep.
As you lay fast asleep
You were in deep sleep when you called me 'Barbara'.
And although I'm not Barbara
Even though my name is not 'Barbara', you still wished that I were her.
You wanted me to be
You desired me to be 'Barbara'.
You whispered words I haven't heard
You uttered words that I haven't heard from you in a very long time.
In such a long, long time
It has been a very long time since you last said those words to me.
Last night you said I love you
You expressed your love for me last night.
With Barbara on your mind
However, you were actually thinking of 'Barbara' while you said those words to me.
Sometimes I find traces of her kisses on your skin
I occasionally discover signs of her love, such as her kisses, on your skin.
And strands of chestnut hair
I also come across strands of 'Barbara's' chestnut hair on you.
That say you've been with her again
Such instances suggest that you have been with 'Barbara' once more.
Little traces of her that it breaks my heart to find
Finding these small indications of 'Barbara' cause emotional pain and distress to me.
With Barbara on your mind
You continue to think of 'Barbara' even as you hold me closely in your arms.
You held me in your arms so tight
You embraced me tightly in your arms.
And lying there so close to you
While lying so near to you, I observed your feelings.
I cried until day light
This caused me so much sadness that I wept until morning light.
And though you think that I don't know
However, you assume that I am ignorant of your love for 'Barbara'.
I'm really not that blind
But, in reality, I am not as unaware as you believe me to be.
Last night you said I love you
Last night, you professed your love for me.
With Barbara on your mind
However, it was 'Barbara' who was on your mind at the time.
Last night you called me darlin'
Last night you called me by a term of affection, 'darlin'.
With Barbara on your mind
But, once again, you were thinking about 'Barbara'.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DOLLY PARTON
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.