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
Change
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Someday when I'm over you
And when I think I'm able to
Well, I might try to be
Your friend again
But your restless heart
And rovin' eyes
I've got to get out of your life
Or I will never mend
I guess I'll die a bit each day
But I'm always dying anyway
And I don't have the heart to
Stay, and I can't take the pain
I know we've tried to no avail
Our heaven now has
Turned to hell
The same old hurt
We know so well
And something's got
To change
We both know it's got to end
The passion's gone
It's just pretend
And one of us have got
To make the move
We might as well just give it up
We've lost respect and
There's no trust
And without this, there's
No real love
It's just some sad excuse
I guess I'll die a bit each day
But I'm always dying anyway
And there's nothing left but walk away
Ain't this a crying shame
A change of pace
A change of heart
A change of place
A place to start
And we'll be better off apart
Our only chance is change
And we never wil
But something has to change
But someday when I'm over you
And when I think I'm able to
Then I will try to be your friend again
But I don't want to see
Your face 'til then
Change, I need a change
I need a change
We need a change
In Dolly Parton's song "Change," the singer discusses the end of a relationship that has become toxic and admits that the only way to move forward is for something to change. She expresses her desire to eventually become friends with her ex again, but acknowledges that it will take time and distance. The lyrics speak to the pain of holding onto something that no longer works and the importance of making changes in order to move on and heal.
The first verse of “Change” shows Dolly's initial attempts to mend the relationship failing as jealousy and fights continue to plague the couple. She recognizes that if she doesn't leave the relationship soon, it will become increasingly damaging to her well-being. The chorus of the song conveys the idea that things are not going to get better, and it's better to move on and make the necessary changes to start anew. The second verse implies that both parties are aware of what needs to be done, but neither is willing to do it, leading to the relationship continuing to degrade.
Throughout the song, there’s a sense of resignation and acceptance, as if Dolly is aware that change is inevitable, but still upset by the fact she's losing what once was. In the end, Dolly realizes that the only way to move forward is to create space and distance, in order for both parties to heal and start over, eventually leading to friendship again.
Line by Line Meaning
Someday when I'm over you
In the future, once I have moved on from you
And when I think I'm able to
When I feel ready to try and be your friend again
Well, I might try to be
I will attempt to be your friend again
Your friend again
To have a non-romantic relationship with you
But your restless heart
Your inability to commit to one person and constant need for excitement
And rovin' eyes
Your tendency to look at other potential partners
My jealousy, these endless fights
My jealousy and the resulting constant arguments
I've got to get out of your life
I need to remove myself from your life
Or I will never mend
Or else I will never heal from the pain you caused me
I guess I'll die a bit each day
I feel like a part of me is dying every day
But I'm always dying anyway
I am aware of my own mortality and eventual death
And I don't have the heart to
I don't have the emotional energy to
Stay, and I can't take the pain
Continue to be with you and feel the hurt it brings
I know we've tried to no avail
We have attempted to make things work without success
Our heaven now has
Our once perfect relationship
Turned to hell
Has become unbearable
The same old hurt
The recurring pain
We know so well
That we are used to by now
And something's got
We need to do something to change this situation
To change
To alter the current state of our relationship
We both know it's got to end
We are both aware that our relationship needs to end
The passion's gone
The intense feelings we had for each other are gone
It's just pretend
We are only pretending to be in love
And one of us has got
One of us needs to
To make the move
Take action to end this relationship
We might as well just give it up
We should accept that it's time to end things
We've lost respect and
We no longer have respect for each other
There's no trust
Our trust for one another has been lost
And without this, there's
Our relationship cannot survive without trust and respect
No real love
We don't have genuine love for each other anymore
It's just some sad excuse
Our relationship is just a sad excuse for love
Ain't this a crying shame
It's a sad situation
A change of pace
We need to switch things up
A change of heart
We need a new outlook on our relationship
A change of place
We may need to move on and be in a different environment
A place to start
This is a new beginning for us
And we'll be better off apart
We will have a better life and more happiness separated
Our only chance is change
Our one hope is to make a change
And we never will
We will never be together again
But something has to change
We need to make a change in order to move on
But someday when I'm over you
In the future, once I have moved on from you
And when I think I'm able to
When I feel ready to try and be your friend again
Then I will try to be your friend again
I will attempt to be your friend again
But I don't want to see your face 'til then
Until I am over you, I don't want to see you
Change, I need a change
We need to make a change
We need a change
Our relationship needs a change
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DOLLY PARTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Tobias Manz
The small amount of views on Dollys videos is criminal...I can´t count how many times she lifted my spirit up. Thank you Dolly <3
Cropps
She is the most inspirational person i have ever heard of. If there was one person i could meet and spend a day with it would be her, she has turned my whole life around and made it so much better. Thanks dolly for being you!!
Hayley Gregory
This was my chemo fight song!!!!! Dolly is extraordinary.
MrKruchinski
I love you, Dolly! May God keep you with us for a long long time! He knows how much we need you!
12wert12wert12wert
I'm 16, and Dolly is absolutely my idol! Yes, I do get made fun of in school when asked my favorite singer and whatnot, but I would never lie! She inspires me so much in my life, and I'm sure that's more than any Ke$ha, or Lady GaGa fan could say...
Stuart
She can never be replaced she is just a simply amazing human being
OakTree Brannon
Why are you even thinking about that?
CJ Turner
So True
Donald L. Marshall
Dolly's articulation (pitching technique/delivery of the words) is in keeping with the best of her talent, which most satisfies her respective audience as well as the industry. Her audience is most enchanted by her character and vibrant enthusiasm.
Abbie May Blower
Absolutley AMAZING! This is what I live for.I was depressed before I heard this song,but now I will go to sleep with a smile on my face :D dolly,your music inspires me so much so maybe now I will go on in life & change it!:) some of your greatest work dolly:) one of the many things I love about you is you keep up with the times & never slow down! I love the song dolly! I love you!