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
Could I Have Your Autograph
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hello, I don't know me from Adam, you don't know me from Eve
I just came here tonight 'cause I was lonely
You're no Elvis Presley, I'm no Marilyn Monroe
But I do think you're sexy, just thought I'd tell you so
Hey could I have your autograph
I'd like to know you and what you're all about
Hey could I have your autograph
I've had my eyes on you and you're worth lookin' at
Could I ask you out or should a lady do that
You may not be famous but you look like a star
You should be in movies as cute as you are
Hey could I have your autograph
Your name and your number on a small photograph
Could I interest you in a romance perhaps
Hey could I have your autograph
Got my heart in my hands and my head in the clouds
And you're everything every girl dreams about
And being with you would be heaven no doubt
What I wouldn't do for your autograph
Oh could I have your autograph
Oh could I have your autograph
Hey could I have your autograph
I like your body could I help you work it out
Maybe moving to the music playing on the phonograph
Hey could I have your autograph
Oh could I have your autograph
You know you're just the kind to makes a woman real proud
Would you take a chance on a girl from the South
Could I have your autograph
The lyrics to Dolly Parton's song "Could I Have Your Autograph" tell the story of a woman who is captivated by a man she sees. She starts by acknowledging that they are strangers to each other, but she came to the gathering because she was feeling lonely. She compares themselves to iconic figures like Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe, stating that while neither of them are famous, she finds him attractive and wants to express her admiration for him.
The woman then goes on to ask if she could have his autograph, wanting his name and number on a small photograph. She expresses her desire to get to know him better and understand who he is as a person. She admits that she has been keeping an eye on him because she believes he is worth looking at. She wonders if she should make the first move and ask him out or if it's more appropriate for him to approach her because of societal norms.
Despite not being famous, she sees him as a star and suggests that he should be in movies because of his looks. She continues to ask for his autograph, showing her interest in him romantically. She mentions that her heart is in her hands and her head is in the clouds because she sees him as everything she dreams about in a person. She describes being with him as heaven and expresses her willingness to do anything for his autograph.
The song ends with the woman reiterating her desire for his autograph. She compliments his body, offering to help him work on it. She suggests a romantic connection through dancing to the music playing on the phonograph. She emphasizes once again that she wants his autograph, describing him as the type of person who would make a woman proud and asking if he would take a chance on someone like her, who hails from the South.
Overall, the lyrics portray a bold and confident woman who is not afraid to express her attraction and interest in a man she finds captivating. She sees him as a potential star, and the autograph symbolizes her desire to have a connection with him, whether it be through friendship, romance, or admiration.
Line by Line Meaning
Hello, I don't know me from Adam, you don't know me from Eve
Greeting, we are strangers to each other
I just came here tonight 'cause I was lonely
I came here because I felt lonely
You're no Elvis Presley, I'm no Marilyn Monroe
We are not famous icons like Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe
But I do think you're sexy, just thought I'd tell you so
I find you attractive and wanted to express it
Hey could I have your autograph
May I have a memento of your name and contact details
Your name and your number on a small photograph
I would like your name and phone number on a small picture
I'd like to know you and what you're all about
I am interested in getting to know you and your personality
I've had my eyes on you and you're worth lookin' at
I have been observing you and find you captivating
Could I ask you out or should a lady do that
May I invite you on a date or is it more suitable for a woman to do so
You may not be famous but you look like a star
Although you are not a celebrity, you have the appearance of one
You should be in movies as cute as you are
You are so charming that you should pursue a career in acting
Got my heart in my hands and my head in the clouds
I am infatuated and daydreaming about you
And you're everything every girl dreams about
You possess all the qualities that every girl fantasizes about
And being with you would be heaven no doubt
Being in a relationship with you would be incredibly blissful
What I wouldn't do for your autograph
I am willing to do anything to have a keepsake with your signature
I like your body could I help you work it out
I admire your physique, can I assist you in maintaining it
Maybe moving to the music playing on the phonograph
Perhaps we can dance together to the music playing on the record player
You know you're just the kind to make a woman real proud
You possess qualities that would make any woman feel proud
Would you take a chance on a girl from the South
Would you be willing to embark on a relationship with a girl from the southern region
Could I have your autograph
May I have a memento of your name and contact details
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DOLLY PARTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Hosborn Otieno
Great song of all. I love it so much and I'm so excited for this.
Craig Brown
Its amazing how the words come flooding back even when I havn''t played this particular song for about six years.
Dolly has the best uplifting songs ever.
Sarafina Zimba
It's 2020 and I'm still listening 😭 it's Soo touching
Craig Brown
This was another of my favourites on the album.
Izzy
Honestly my favorite Dolly album lol
Ellis Woodall
I would like her AUTOGRAPH"!❤
leah eroni
When music was music