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
Better Move It on Home
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Already you're a half-hour late
I've been a' pullin' back the curtains, peepin' out the window
Wish you wouldn't make me wait
You better move it on home, boy (move it on home)
You better move it on home
Been a' sittin' here listenin' to the jukebox playin'
Sippin' on a cool one, havin' me some good fun
Time got away from me
I better move it on home (move it on home)
Better move it on home
Baby, spin them wheels and make it on back
Where heaven on earth and love is at
Like a rollin' stone (rollin' stone)
Better move it on home, yeah
I've been here a' cookin' you a nice hot supper
And you can't even eat it on time
Heatin' up the meat loaf and stirrin' up the gravy
It's kinda got to messin' up my mind
You better move it on home, boy (move it on home)
You better move it on home, yeah
I been a' speedin' through the traffic, passin' everyone
I remember what I forgot
Steppin' on the gas and a' drivin' kind of fast
Hopin' I won't get stopped
Better move it on home (move it on home)
Better move it on home
Baby, spin them wheels and make it on back
Where heaven on earth and love is at
Like a rollin' stone (rollin' stone)
Better move it on home
Baby, spin them wheels and make it on back
Where heaven on earth and love is at
Like a rollin' stone (rollin' stone)
Better move it on home, yeah (move it on home)
Better move it on home, daddy (move it on home)
You're runnin' just a little shade late (move it on home)
I'm on my way baby, this traffic is murder (move it on home)
Ah, that's what I thought (move it on home)
That's what it's gonna be at home
If you don't get here soon (move it on home)
Traffic's a' messin' up my mind (move it on home)
You're messin' up mine
The song "Better Move It On Home" by Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner is an amusing take on the struggles of waiting for a late partner who is causing frustration to their significant other. Throughout the song, the singer expresses their annoyance at their partner's lateness, highlighting the fact that they have been waiting for a long time and their partner is beyond late. They are getting agitated, and time seems to be moving slowly for them. Meanwhile, their partner is out partying and having a good time, forgetting what they promised to do at home. As the song progresses, the singer gets more and more desperate for their partner to come home, making threatening remarks about what they will do if they continue to leave them waiting.
The song has a catchy, fun tune that matches its light-hearted lyrics. Its major themes - waiting, impatience, and the importance of being on time - resonate with many people, making it relatable beyond the specific context of being a romantic partner. It is a reflection of the society's social norms during the 70s, where late husbands often went out for drinks with friends before returning home. The song remains a light-hearted commentary on the struggles of waiting for someone, and how it can drive a person to the brink of madness.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been sittin' here looking at the clock big daddy
I have been sitting here and gazing at the clock, waiting for you.
Allready you're a half hour late.
You are already thirty minutes behind schedule.
I've been pulling back the curtains, peeping out the window
I have been opening the curtains and peeking out the window of the house to see if you're coming.
Wish you wouldn't make me wait
It would be great if you arrived on time, so I wouldn’t have to wait.
You better move it on home, boy, you better move it on home.
You had better get going back to the house.
I've been sittin' here listening to the jukebox playing
I have been hearing the jukebox music fill the empty space of the room.
And forgettin' where I ought to be.
The music has caused me to forget what I need to do.
Zipping on a cool one having me some good fun
I have been drinking an alcoholic beverage and having a great time.
Time got away from me.
I lost track of time and didn't keep my eye on the clock.
I better move it on home, I better move it on home.
I need to get back to the house as soon as possible.
[Chorus]
The chorus repeats throughout the song.
Better spin them wheels and make it on back
You should hurry up and drive back to us.
To heaven on earth and lovers' at
Once you arrive, it will feel as though heaven's come to earth and we will be reunited.
Like a rolling stone, you better move it on home.
You need to roll on back to the house as soon as possible.
I've been here cooking you a nice hot supper
While waiting for you, I have been making a delicious meal for you.
And you can't even eat it on time
And yet, even after all of this, you have the audacity to arrive late to eat the meal I've made for you.
Heating up the meat loaf and stiring up the gravy
I have been warming up the meatloaf and stirring the gravy as a cook would.
Is kind a messing up my mind
However, the fact that you are not yet here is causing me anxiety.
I've been speeding through the traffic, passing everyone
I have been driving quickly through traffic, trying to make up for lost time.
I remember what I forgot.
I can remember now what I had forgotten earlier on.
Stepping on the gas and driving kind of fast
I am pressing the gas pedal and driving rather quickly.
Hoping I won't get stopped.
I hope that I will not get stopped by authorities.
She: Better move it on home, boy right on this time or I'm gonna shake it.
Better hurry and come back home at this moment, or I'm going to be very upset.
He: I'm on my way babe, but the traffic is murder
I am on my way, but the traffic is terrible.
She: That's what I thought the trouble is at home, if you're not at home soon.
That's what I had been thinking. There will be trouble if you don't hurry up and come back home.
He: Traffic is messing up my mind
The congestion on the road is giving me anxiety.
She: ...and you're messing up mine.
Your lateness is affecting my state of mind negatively.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Ray Griff
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.