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
Bobby's Arms
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bobby's arms, they are warm when he holds me
Bobby's arms always comfort and console me
When I'm in his arms held tight
I know everything's alright
Just as long as I'm inside bobby's arms
Chorus:
Bobby's arms always welcome me inside
Bobby's arms always hold me when I cry
Bobby's arms are my shelter from life's storms
And I feel so safe in Bobby's arms
Bobby's arms, they are strong but they're tender
Bobby's arms reach for me and I surrender
When he reaches out for me, I'm never out of reach
And I always want to be in Bobby's arms
Repeat Chorus
In Dolly Parton's song "Bobby's Arms," the country music icon sings about the comfort and security she finds in the embrace of her lover, Bobby. In the first verse, Parton highlights the warmth she feels from Bobby's arms when he holds her, while the second verse emphasizes the strength and tenderness of his embrace. Throughout the song, Parton paints a picture of a relationship that serves as a respite from the storms of life.
The chorus is the central message of the song, with Parton declaring that she feels welcomed, comforted, and sheltered when she is in Bobby's arms. The repetition of the chorus underscores the idea that Bobby's arms are a constant source of comfort and security for the singer.
Overall, "Bobby's Arms" is a simple but powerful love song that captures the beauty of finding refuge in the arms of someone you love.
Line by Line Meaning
Bobby's arms, they are warm when he holds me
Bobby's embrace provides warmth and comfort once he holds me close
Bobby's arms always comfort and console me
Even when I'm upset or troubled, Bobby's arms never fail to comfort and console me
When I'm in his arms held tight
When Bobby holds me tight within his arms
I know everything's alright
I feel safe and secure, knowing that everything will be okay
Just as long as I'm inside bobby's arms
As long as Bobby is holding me within his embrace
Bobby's arms always welcome me inside
Bobby is always happy to embrace and hold me close within his arms
Bobby's arms always hold me when I cry
When I'm crying, Bobby's arms offer support and comfort
Bobby's arms are my shelter from life's storms
In times of trouble or hardships, Bobby's arms offer me a safe haven and shelter
And I feel so safe in Bobby's arms
Being held in Bobby's arms makes me feel secure
Bobby's arms, they are strong but they're tender
Bobby's arms display both strength and tenderness
Bobby's arms reach for me and I surrender
I willingly give myself over to Bobby's embrace when he reaches out for me
When he reaches out for me, I'm never out of reach
Regardless of the distance, Bobby is always ready and willing to hold me within his arms
And I always want to be in Bobby's arms
I never want to be far from Bobby's embrace
Repeat Chorus
Reiterating the sentiments of the chorus
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DOLLY PARTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
ashleigh w
thanks, i just love this song! she sings it with such grace! shes fab :)
Dadayi33
No comparison with her voice, I just love the way she is so feminine she makes
me feel comfortable to be a woman. Bless her
ashleigh w
she's beautiful in everything she does and is :) your so right
Gabriel Moraitakis
So beautiful Dolly,s pictures -as always- and so beautiful lyrics -as always- what can anybody say about her....
Bobby Needs
A song? About my arms? Wow!!!
Yadashi E
Bobby's arms choke me when
touk roger
this song is a very ballad