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
Chicken Every Sunday
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
His family calls me the lower class
Cause we're only poor folks on the other side of town
They won't let him walk up my path
But my mama says don't worry when they say those things about you
You remember, you're just as good as him
Just because they got that big house sittin' way upon the hill
We've got chicken every Sunday and the preacher comes around
And every Saturday morning daddy takes us all to town
And we'd go to the picture show, have picnics on the ground
Oh, that's the lower class then I'm glad that's what I am
Cause my mama don't belong to the ladies social set
My daddy can't afford the country club
His folks look down on me and they don't let us date
Cause they think that I'm not good enough
But my mama says forgive him honey, he ain't worth at all
And if anything, you're too good for him
Just because they've got money and a big fine house
Aha, we won't take no sad talks off them
We've got chicken every Sunday and the preacher comes around
And every Saturday morning daddy takes us all to town
And we'd go to the picture show, have picnics on the ground
Oh, that's the lower class then I'm glad that's what I am
We've got chicken every Sunday and the preacher comes around
And every Saturday morning daddy takes us in to town
The lyrics of Dolly Parton's "Chicken Every Sunday" tell the story of a young woman who is criticized by her boyfriend's family for being from a lower class. Despite being called a hand-me-down cotton-clad girl from the other side of town, she remains proud of her roots and her family traditions. The song highlights the class divide prevalent in American society, where people are often judged based on their place of birth, upbringing, and social status. The singer is resilient as she defies the expectation of conformity and asserts her identity despite the pressure from her boyfriend's family. She cherishes her simple life and takes pride in it.
The phrase "chicken every Sunday" is used as a symbol of the family's tradition and togetherness. It represents a time when her family comes together, not just to eat, but also to connect with their community, attend church and socialize with their friends. Similarly, every Saturday, her father takes them to town to enjoy the simple pleasures of life like going to the movies and having picnics. The song uses these mundane activities to reveal the beauty in simplicity and a sense of belonging.
In conclusion, "Chicken Every Sunday" is an insightful commentary on the pressures of classism, the importance of preserving traditions, and the beauty of simple pleasures. The song's protagonist defies the odds and asserts her identity while celebrating her family's way of life. It is a tribute to the resilience of the human spirit and a reminder of the power of family bonds in overcoming adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
Just because all my dresses are just cotton hand me downs
I am viewed as inferior because I cannot afford fancy clothing like his family.
His family calls me the lower class
His family looks down on me because they consider themselves to be of a higher social class.
Cause we're only poor folks on the other side of town
We are not as wealthy as his family and live in a less affluent part of town.
They won't let him walk up my path
His family does not want him to associate with me or visit my home.
But my mama says don't worry when they say those things about you
My mother advises me not to be concerned about what others think or say about me.
You remember, you're just as good as him
Despite our differences in wealth and social class, I am equal to him in worth and dignity.
Just because they got that big house sittin' way upon the hill
His family's wealth and status do not make them better or more important than us.
Why, you don't have to look up to them
We should not feel inferior or subordinate to them, despite their material advantages.
We've got chicken every Sunday and the preacher comes around
Despite our modest means, we enjoy simple pleasures like having a family meal and attending church.
And every Saturday morning daddy takes us all to town
We look forward to going into town together as a family, despite not having much money to spend.
And we'd go to the picture show, have picnics on the ground
We enjoy wholesome activities like going to the movies and having picnics outdoors.
Oh, that's the lower class then I'm glad that's what I am
I embrace and take pride in my identity as a member of a lower social class.
Cause my mama don't belong to the ladies social set
My mother does not feel the need to conform to the expectations of a snobbish social group.
My daddy can't afford the country club
My father is not wealthy enough to join a prestigious organization like a country club.
His folks look down on me and they don't let us date
His family disapproves of our relationship and prevents us from spending time together.
Cause they think that I'm not good enough
His family believes that I am unworthy or beneath their son in some way.
But my mama says forgive him honey, he ain't worth at all
My mother advises me to let go of anger or hurt towards him, as he is not valuable enough to hold onto negative feelings about.
And if anything, you're too good for him
My mother believes that I am a better person than him and should not let his family's opinions hurt my self-worth.
Aha, we won't take no sad talks off them
We will not allow his family's negative comments or attitudes to bring us down or make us feel ashamed.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BETTY CRAIG, CHARLIE CRAIG
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.