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
Company You Keep
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You say you're doin' nothing wrong
I don't believe you are
I'm only trying to help you sis
Before you go too far
Cause I think you're an angel
But folks think that you're cheap
Cause you're known by the company you keep
Please listen to your big sister
I feel I know what's best for you
I feel that I must warn you sis
That's the least that I could do
I'm not accusing you of anything
I know it's fun you see
But you're known by the company you keep
The company you keep keeps you out too long
Mom and dad don't go to sleep until you get home
Sis, you're gettin' in too deep
You'd better look before you leave
Cause you're known by the company you keep
Sis, you're gettin' in too deep
The road of life is steep
And you're known by the company you keep
In Dolly Parton's song "Company You Keep," she speaks to her younger sister about the importance of the company one keeps. By saying "you're known by the company you keep," she is warning her sister that the people she surrounds herself with will have an impact on how people perceive her. The lyrics imply that her sister might not be doing anything wrong, but being associated with the wrong people can still damage her reputation. Dolly is trying to help her younger sister by offering guidance before she crosses a line she might regret. She wants her sister to consider the consequences of her association before she goes too far, because the road of life is steep.
This song is relatable to many people because it touches on the importance of being mindful of who we are associated with in life. Our actions and the actions of others can have an impact on our reputation and future opportunities. Dolly's lyrics teach us to be cautious and thoughtful about our affiliations and the people we allow into our life. By sharing her wisdom with her sister, she is also sharing it with the listeners of her song.
Line by Line Meaning
Yes, you're known by the company you keep
The people you spend time with can define your reputation and perception to others.
You say you're doin' nothing wrong
You claim that your actions are harmless and innocent.
I don't believe you are
I have doubts that what you are doing is truly harmless.
I'm only trying to help you sis
I'm attempting to guide and support you, my sister.
Before you go too far
Before your behavior goes beyond the point of no return.
Cause I think you're an angel
I believe that you are a good and virtuous person.
But folks think that you're cheap
However, other people tend to view you as promiscuous or of low moral character, likely due to the company you keep.
Please listen to your big sister
I request that you pay attention and take my advice, as your older sibling.
I feel I know what's best for you
I trust that I have your best interests at heart and that my advice will help you.
That's the least that I could do
At the minimum, I feel obligated to warn you and offer my assistance.
I'm not accusing you of anything
I am not stating that you are guilty of any wrongdoing or misbehaving.
I know it's fun you see
I know that your actions seem enjoyable and entertaining to you at the moment.
But you're known by the company you keep
However, it is important to remember that the people you associate with can influence how you are perceived by others.
The company you keep keeps you out too long
The group you spend time with causes you to stay away for extended periods of time.
Mom and dad don't go to sleep until you get home
Our parents are worried about your well-being and wait up for you to return home in the evenings.
Sis, you're gettin' in too deep
I am concerned that you are becoming too involved and invested in your current actions and associations.
You'd better look before you leave
It would be wise to consider the potential consequences before you exit this situation.
The road of life is steep
Life is challenging and full of obstacles.
And you're known by the company you keep
The people you choose to spend your time with can have a significant impact on your reputation and wellbeing.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: BILL OWENS, DOLLY PARTON
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.