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
Before You Make Up Your Mind
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Before you make up your mind to walk out the door
Before you telle me that it's all over
Let me say what I have to say it won't take me all day
And if you still wanna leave don't stay for I won't try to hold you anymore
Does she really love you way that I love you
Does she treat you right even when you've done wrong
If she's woman enough to forgive you way that I'm willing to
Give these thoughts a little time before you make up your mind
[ guitar ]
Does she really love you way that I love you
Will she treat you right even when you do wrong
If she's woman enough to forgive you way that I'm willing to
If she ain't then don't go for I still love you so we all make mistakes I know
Give these thoughts a little time before you make up your mind
Give these thoughts a little time before you make up your mind
The lyrics to Dolly Parton's "Before You Make Up Your Mind" express a plea for her lover to consider their relationship thoroughly before deciding to leave. She asks her lover to contemplate whether the new person they are leaving for will love and forgive them as she does. Parton urges her lover to make sure that their new partner is willing to treat them right even when they make mistakes. She pleads with them not to rush into any hasty decisions, but instead, take some time to think things over carefully.
Through her lyrics, Parton conveys an earnest desire to hold onto her lover. She asks for a fair chance to fight for their relationship by making comparisons between herself and the new partner, ensuring that her lover will be loved and forgiven in the manner that they need. She demonstrates a willingness to forgive and work through any mistakes, promising to continue to love her partner.
In summary, "Before You Make Up Your Mind" is a heartfelt plea for a lover to contemplate their decision to end their relationship. Dolly Parton communicates her love and willingness to forgive, while also urging her lover to consider whether their new partner will provide them with the same care and understanding.
Line by Line Meaning
Before you make up your mind to leave me
I want to talk to you before you go
Before you make up your mind to walk out the door
I need to say something before you leave
Before you telle me that it's all over
Before you tell me it's over, hear me out
Let me say what I have to say it won't take me all day
I just need a moment to speak my mind
And if you still wanna leave don't stay for I won't try to hold you anymore
If you still want to leave, I won't stop you
Does she really love you way that I love you
Does the person you're leaving me for truly love you like I do?
Does she treat you right even when you've done wrong
Does she still treat you well, even when you mess up?
If she's woman enough to forgive you way that I'm willing to
If she's able to forgive you like I would, then maybe you should leave
If she ain't then don't go for I still love you so we all make mistakes I know
If she can't forgive you, don't leave because I still love you and we all make mistakes
Give these thoughts a little time before you make up your mind
Just take some time to think about all of this before you make your final decision
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.