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
Don't Drop Out
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And when you leave, who's gonna walk me home
Cause when you walk out the door
I won't see you no more
And you're the one I adore so baby
Don't drop out of my life, baby, don't be a fool
(Don't drop out, baby, don't drop out now)
(Don't drop out, baby, don't drop out now)
You're not prepared to do anything
So if you wanna buy me that diamond ring, well
Don't drop out of my life, baby, don't drop out
My parents say you're lazy but you can be smart if you try
And I know you've got a heart cause you've never ever made me cry
They say you're no good so baby do what you should
And stay here by my side oh darlin'
Don't drop out of my life, baby, don't be a fool
(Don't drop out, baby, don't drop out now)
You're old enough to know you're too young to face the world so cruel
(Don't drop out, baby, don't drop out now)
You're not prepared to do anything
So if you wanna buy me that diamond ring, well
Don't drop out of my life, baby, don't drop out
(Don't drop out, baby, don't drop out now)
Don't drop out of my life
Baby, don't drop out
(Don't drop out, baby, don't drop out now)
The lyrics to Dolly Parton's song "Don't Drop Out" are about a young woman pleading with her love interest not to leave her. She is afraid of facing the future and being alone in a cruel world without him. Despite her parents' disapproval of him, she believes he has potential and a good heart. She encourages him not to drop out of her life and to strive to be better. The lyrics highlight the importance of love and support in a relationship, and the fear of facing hardship alone.
Line by Line Meaning
Am I to face these lonely halls alone
Is it my fate to walk these empty halls by myself?
And when you leave, who's gonna walk me home
After you go, who will guide me back to my safe haven?
Cause when you walk out the door
Because once you depart from my life,
I won't see you no more
I will lose sight of you forever
And you're the one I adore so baby
You are the only one I cherish, so please
Don't drop out of my life, baby, don't be a fool
Please do not give up on our life together, my love, do not make a foolish decision
(Don't drop out, baby, don't drop out now)
You're old enough to know you're too young to face the world so cruel
You are mature enough to realize that you are still young to tackle this cruel world
(Don't drop out, baby, don't drop out now)
You're not prepared to do anything
You are not equipped to tackle any obstacle in the near future
So if you wanna buy me that diamond ring, well
Therefore, if you want to give me a valuable possession such as a diamond ring,
Don't drop out of my life, baby, don't drop out
Please do not give up on me, baby, do not leave me alone
My parents say you're lazy but you can be smart if you try
My parents believe you are indolent but can improve yourself if you make an effort
And I know you've got a heart cause you've never ever made me cry
But I know you possess a fantastic heart because you have never caused me any pain
They say you're no good so baby do what you should
They claim you are unsatisfactory, so please do what is right
And stay here by my side oh darlin'
And stay right here beside me, my darling
(Don't drop out, baby, don't drop out now)
Don't drop out of my life
Do not disappear from my existence
Baby, don't drop out
My dear, do not leave me behind
(Don't drop out, baby, don't drop out now)
Contributed by Isaiah W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@chalison
Never knew she made music like this! She's fabulous doing a variety of styles.
@joshualieder7524
One of Dollys best songs. I wish she would do a similar whole album now like it. Great job Dolly. God bless you and Carl your husband.
@OKCRay1
This is on the 2023 Record Store Day "Monument Singles Collection"... get it while you can!
@patrickelliot8763
Wow! Sounds more like Petula Clark or Lesley Gore than country. I love this. Classic 60s pop!
@boredweegie553
i just discovered this on a compilation album and "Where the girls are" this blew ma mind..I wish she done more of rhis bubblegum stuff..her voice is just unbelievable on this type of music.♥️♥️♥️
@feliciarambo-reedy5423
Wish she would remake this gem❤
@paulgreen6302
Leader of the pack.
@KOSMICKEN09
Heard this on little Steven's underground garage 🎼🎧🎸🎷🎵
@k8russl8
Shades of the 60’s.
@jonathanstewart632
Bonnie, Not awful just different, Not for everyone, she could have done this for Phil Spector ,and Underground Garage types love it.