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
Cross My Heart
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I know there's times when you must wonder
If my love is true, and I'm satisfied
I wish I knew a way to show you
I'm forever yours for the rest of my life
I cross my heart and hope to die
My love grows stronger as the time goes by
Cross my heart and hope to die
And all those times we're not together
You're in my heart and you're on my mind
You're like a part of me that's missing
I cross my heart and hope to die
I cross my heart and hope to die
I'll always be here by your side
My love grows stronger as the time goes by
Cross my heart and hope to die
I cross my heart and hope to die
I cross my heart
and hope to die" is a powerful pledge of love and loyalty made by the singer to the person they love. The lyrics convey a strong sense of commitment and devotion to the relationship, reassuring the other person of the singer's unwavering love. The singer acknowledges that there may be times when doubts or insecurities arise, but they want to assure their partner that their love is real and enduring.
Throughout the song, the singer expresses their deep affection for their partner, whether they are together or apart. The lyrics suggest that even when physically separate, the two are still connected and their love continues to grow stronger with time. The singer compares their partner to a missing part of themselves, highlighting the depth of their attachment.
Overall, "Cross My Heart" is a heartfelt declaration of love and fidelity, evoking a sense of security and trust in the relationship. The song touches on universal themes of commitment and devotion, and Dolly Parton's emotive vocals add an extra layer of sincerity to the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
I know there's times when you must wonder
I understand that sometimes you may have doubts about my love
If my love is true, and I'm satisfied
You may question whether my love for you is genuine and if I'm truly content in this relationship
I wish I knew a way to show you
I wish I could find a way to prove the depth of my love for you
I'm forever yours for the rest of my life
I am committed to being yours forever
I cross my heart and hope to die
I swear to you that what I am saying is true and I am willing to make the ultimate promise on my life
I'll always be here by your side
I will always be there to support and stand beside you, no matter what happens
My love grows stronger as the time goes by
My love for you deepens and intensifies with each passing moment
And all those times we're not together
During the times when we are apart, physically, you are still with me in my heart and thoughts
You're like a part of me that's missing
Without you, I feel incomplete and like a part of me is absent
I cross my heart and hope to die
I reiterate my promise to you, with all the sincerity and solemnity that comes with the phrase
I cross my heart
Once more, I proclaim my genuine oath and the depth of my love for you
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: RACHEL DENNISON, FLOYD PARTON, RANDY 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.