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
Do I Ever Cross Your Mind?
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Long ago in the sweet used to be
And the flowers still grow, but they don't smell as sweet
As they did when you picked them for me
And when I think of you and the love we once knew
How I wish we could go back in time
Do you ever think back on old memories like that
Do you ever wake up lonely in the middle of the night
Because you miss me, do you darling
Oh, and do your memories ever take
You back into another place in time
And do you ever miss the feelings
And the love we shared when you were with me, tell me darling
Or do I ever cross your mind
Oh, how often I wish that again I could kiss
Your sweet lips like I did long ago
And how often I long for those two loving arms
That once held me so gentle and close
And when I think of you and the love we once knew
How I wish we could go back in time
Do you ever think back on old memories like that
Or do I ever cross your mind
In Dolly Parton's classic country ballad "Do I Ever Cross Your Mind", the singer is reminiscing about an old love and wondering if they ever think about her. She describes walking through fields where they used to walk together, and noticing that the flowers don't smell as sweet as they did when he used to pick them for her. The singer feels a sense of longing and wishes they could go back in time to the love they once shared. She wonders if her former lover ever thinks about their old memories together or if she ever crosses his mind.
The song captures the feelings of nostalgia, regret, and longing that come with lost love. Dolly Parton's emotive vocals convey the emotional depth of the lyrics, and the twangy steel guitar and country instrumentation create a melancholic mood. The song's sparse production allows the lyrics and the vocal performance to take center stage, and the result is a hauntingly beautiful ballad about lost love.
In summary, "Do I Ever Cross Your Mind" is a poignant and emotive country ballad about lost love and the longing for the past. It's a timeless classic that has resonated with listeners for decades.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, sometimes I go walking through fields where we walked
I visit the same fields we used to walk through together.
Long ago in the sweet used to be
It was in the past, a time we both cherished.
And the flowers still grow, but they don't smell as sweet
The flowers we used to gather still exist, but they don't evoke strong memories anymore.
As they did when you picked them for me
The memories of when you picked those flowers for me are still alive.
And when I think of you and the love we once knew
Whenever I recall the memories of our love,
How I wish we could go back in time
I really desire to relive those beautiful moments once again.
Do you ever think back on old memories like that
Do you ever feel nostalgic about those same old memories?
Or do I ever cross your mind
Do I ever make you think of me?
Do you ever wake up lonely in the middle of the night
Does loneliness haunt you at night?
Because you miss me, do you darling
Is it because you miss me, dear?
Oh, and do your memories ever take
Do your memories ever transport you
You back into another place in time
To another moment in time?
And do you ever miss the feelings
Do you ever yearn for the emotions
And the love we shared when you were with me, tell me darling
And the love we shared when we were together, can you share it with me?
Or do I ever cross your mind
Do I ever make an appearance in your thoughts?
Oh, how often I wish that again I could kiss
I long for those kisses again
Your sweet lips like I did long ago
Your lips were the sweetest I ever tasted
And how often I long for those two loving arms
I frequently yearn for your embrace
That once held me so gentle and close
That kept me ever so softly and closely.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DOLLY PARTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@fenigard2872
She is exceptionally unique talent. She lightens my life when ever I play her songs
@appleheadjackson3524
Dolly's voice makes me so happy and want to cry. She's so special and amazing. I'll probably never get the chance to meet this beautiful soul but I do appreciate the great music and lighting up my world more than she'll ever know. There will never be another Dolly Parton a true jewel. ♥️♥️♥️♥️
@angelabucknor4981
Same sentiments her.She is so lovely. Her singing makes you happy and want to cry at the same time.
@kimutaiboit8516
Me too. I'll travel to see her before I see the Ka'ba in Mecca. So help me God.
@lauramartinez7057
I feel like if she was in my life, I’d always be hugging her! Does that sound weird?
@beckyanderson5014
Same here.. I love her like crazy, love her songs, voice and everything! Queen Dolly forever
@beckyanderson5014
I wish I could meet her... how I love her music please 💖
@kenarms4364
Quite simply an American treasure. She deserves every award and accolade she has ever earned including the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
@MrAndreferrari
2020
Who's with me
@kelly50
Me!