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 Let It Trouble Your Mind
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Our love affair is bitter sweet
Insecure and incomplete
And I've often wondered why your leaving's been so long delayed
It's all become so complicated
Maybe you feel obligated
And out of simpathy for me you stay
Than live with someone who doesn't love me
And I'd rather have you go than stay
And put me down a thinkin' you're above me
Our love affair is so wound up
It's best that we unwind
And if you don't love me, leave me
And don't let it trouble your mind
You've waited much too long to leave afraid of how I'd take it
And I'm deeply touched by your concern but I think I can make it
It won't be easy for a while but I'll forget in time
And if you don't love me, leave me and don't let it trouble your mind
I had rather live alone
Than live with someone who doesn't love me
And I'd rather have you go than stay
And put me down a-thinkin' you're above me
Our love affair is so wound up
It's best that we unwind
And if you don't love me, leave me
And don't let it trouble your mind
This song by Dolly Parton titled "Don't Let It Trouble Your Mind" articulates the complexity of a relationship that has been sustained by pity more than love. The first few lines reveal that the singer is trapped in an unfulfilling relationship that is not complete, and she questions why her partner has continued staying even though he is not in love with her. She acknowledges that the situation has become very complicated, and maybe her partner feels obligated to stay to make her happy. But she would rather be alone than stay with someone who doesn't love her. The song emphasizes the importance of a genuine and fulfilling relationship, and the futility of staying in a relationship where there is no true love involved.
In the second verse, the singer advises her partner that he has already delayed too long to leave because he was afraid of hurting her feelings. However, she assures him that she would rather he leaves instead of staying and putting her down. She acknowledges that it will not be easy to forget what they had shared, but in time, things will get better. The chorus repeats the idea that their love affair is complicated and that it's better to unwind it if there's no love involved.
In conclusion, "Don't Let It Trouble Your Mind" is a well-written song that captures the complexity of human emotions and relationships. Dolly Parton's voice adds texture and soul to the lyrics, making it a moving song that will resonate with anyone who has ever loved and lost.
Line by Line Meaning
Our love affair is bitter sweet
Our relationship is a mix of good and bad, it has sweet moments but also bitter ones.
Insecure and incomplete
We both lack security and the relationship feels unfinished.
And I've often wondered why your leaving's been so long delayed
I have questioned why you haven't left sooner if you do not love me.
It's all become so complicated
The situation has become complex and hard to deal with.
Maybe you feel obligated
Perhaps you feel a sense of duty or responsibility to stay with me.
And out of simpathy for me you stay
You might be staying out of sympathy for me and my feelings.
But I had rather live alone
I would rather be alone than be with someone who doesn't love me.
Than live with someone who doesn't love me
Living with someone who doesn't love me is worse than being alone.
And I'd rather have you go than stay
I prefer if you left instead of staying and hurting me.
And put me down a thinkin' you're above me
I don't want you to stay and make me feel inferior to you.
Our love affair is so wound up
Our relationship is so tangled and difficult.
It's best that we unwind
It is better if we untangle ourselves from this relationship.
And if you don't love me, leave me
If you don't love me, it's best if you leave me.
You've waited much too long to leave afraid of how I'd take it
You have waited too long to leave because you were worried about how I would react.
And I'm deeply touched by your concern but I think I can make it
I appreciate your concern for my wellbeing, but I know I can handle it.
It won't be easy for a while but I'll forget in time
I know that it will be difficult at first, but I will eventually move on.
And if you don't love me, leave me and don't let it trouble your mind
If you don't love me, please leave me and don't worry about how it will affect me.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DOLLY 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.