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
Daddy Was an Old Time Preacher Man
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He preached the word of God throughout the land
He preached so plain a child could understand
Yes, Daddy was an old time preacher man
He told the people of the need to pray
He talked about God's wrath and Judgement Day
He preached about the great eternity
And he preached hell so hot that you could feel the heat
Daddy was an old time preacher man
Aunt Leona would get up to testify
As we'd sing, "In the sweet by and by" (in the sweet, by and by)
Then we'd sing, "I'm on my way to Canaan's Land"
Yes, Daddy was an old time preacher man
Revivals and camp meetings went for weeks
Folks came from all around to hear him preach
Daddy said, "If one is saved, it's worth it all"
But the aisles were always filled at altar calls
Daddy was an old time preacher man
He preached the word of God throughout the land
He preached so plain a child could understand
Yes, Daddy was an old time preacher man
Daddy worked for God but asked no pay
For he believed that God provides a way
We never had a lot but we got by
I guess it's 'cause the Lord was on my Daddy's side
Yes, Daddy was an old time preacher man
In the sweet (in the sweet) by and by (by and by)
We shall meet on that beautiful shore
I'm on my way (I'm on my way) to Canaan's land
Yes, Daddy was an old time preacher man
In the sweet (in the sweet) by and by (by and by)
We shall meet on that beautiful shore
I'm on my way (I'm on my way) to Canaan's land
Yes, Daddy was an old time preacher man
In the sweet (in the sweet) by and by (by and by)
We shall meet on that beautiful shore
I'm on my way
The lyrics of "Daddy Was An Old Time Preacher Man" by Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner depict Dolly's father as a preacher who dedicated his life to spreading the word of God. The song describes how her father preached and delivered sermons about various themes such as the need to pray, God's wrath and judgement day, and eternal life. He would often talk about the horrors of hell, and his message was so powerful that people could feel the heat of hell.
The song also portrays the religious practices of the congregation, such as reciting "In The Sweet By And By" and "I'm On My Way To Canaan Land" during Aunt Leanona's testimony, and the significant impact that her father had on the community. Revivals and camp meetings would go on for weeks, and people from all around would come to hear him preach. The preacher would always call on people to come to the altar and be saved. Despite dedicating his life to the church, he never asked for any pay because he believed that God would provide.
In summary, the song is a tribute to Dolly's father, who was an accomplished preacher and an inspiration to many people. The lyrics paint a picture of a man who lived his life spreading the word of God, and despite the hardships faced, believed that faith in God would provide.
Line by Line Meaning
Daddy was an old time preacher man
My father was a preacher who followed the traditional ways of preaching in his time
He preacher the word of God throughout the land
He traveled far and wide to teach people about God and his teachings
He preached so plain a child could understand
He simplified his sermons so that even children could understand the message
Yes, Daddy was an old time preacher man
As I said before, my father was quite traditional in his preaching
He told the people of the need to pray
He emphasized the importance of prayer to the people he preached to
He talked about God's wrath and judgement day
He discussed with people the consequences of not following God's teachings and actions
He preached about the great eternity
He taught people about the everlasting existence in the afterlife
He preached hell so hot that you could feel the heat
He spoke of hell in a way that would make people fear the consequences of going against God's will
Aunt Leanona would get up to testify
My aunt would occasionally share her experiences and thoughts related to God's teachings
And we'd sing 'In The Sweet By And By'
We sang a hymn about the afterlife in heaven
Then we'd sing 'I'm On My Way To Canaan Land'
We sang another hymn about being on the journey towards the promised land
Revivals and camp meetings went for weeks
Religious gatherings and events took place for several weeks, with my father preaching to large crowds
Folks came from all around to hear him preach
People from different parts of the town or neighboring towns came to listen to my father preach
Daddy said if one is saved it's worth it all
My father believed that if he could save even just one person, his efforts were worth it
But the aisles were always filled at altar calls
When my father called for a time of reflection and prayer, people would line up to pray at the altar
Daddy worked for God but asked for no pay
My father did not seek payment for his services to God
For he believed that God provides a way
My father believed that God would provide for him and our family
We never had a lot but we got by
We did not have much in terms of material possessions, but we managed to get by with what we had
Guess it's 'cause the Lord was on Daddy's side
My father believed that the Lord was with him and his family, helping them through tough times
Yes, Daddy was an old time preacher man
Once again, my father was a traditional preacher who followed the ways of preaching in his time
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Dorothy Owens, Dolly Parton
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@kkiilljjooy
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@teresacochrane4073
"He preached hell so hot that you could feel the heat". We could use some of that today.
@davidhanshaw7840
Amen to that
@hassanniwagaba3399
Amen
@shirleyhughes8425
My daddy was an old fashioned preacher man❤
@JohnMoris-ii9tm
Hello,how are you doing..?
@fernandochavez4312
No disrespect to Mr Wagoner, the host spoke to him on a song that Miss Parton wrote. Sign of the times.
@timothynjoki8291
Here dolly was soo young...she looked very beautiful...
@user-bk7hq9kq3v
Dolly has reached our hearts, and it makes me feel like I am lost but still remain hopeful
@user-rv1ir5bx5h
This song reminds me of my late father though he was not a preacher but a successful businessman 😊😊 continue resting in peace Dad till we meet again.