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.
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Dolly Parton Lyrics
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And two doors down they're not aware that I'm around
But here I am crying my heart out, feeling sorry
But they're having a party just two doors down
I think I'll dry these useless tears and get myself together
I think I'll wander down the hall and have a look around
'Cause I can't stay inside this lonely room and cry forever
Two doors down we're laughing and drinking and having a party
And two doors down they're all aware that I'm around
'Cause here I am no longer crying and feeling sorry
We're having a party just two doors down
I can't believe I'm standing here dry-eyed, all smiles and talkin'
Making conversation with the new love I've found
I ask him if he'd like to be alone and we start walkin'
Down the hall to my place waiting two doors down, yeah
Two doors down they're laughing and drinking and having a party
And two doors down we're not aware that they're around
'Cause here I am feeling everything but sorry
We're having our own party two doors down
Oh oh oh oh, two doors down
Oh oh oh oh, two doors down
Oh oh oh oh, two doors down
Oh oh oh oh, two doors down
Two doors down they're laughing and drinking and having a party
And two doors down we're not aware that they're around
'Cause here we end feeling everything but sorry
We're having our own party two doors down
Two doors down they're laughing and drinking and having a party
And two doors down we're not aware that they're around
Here we end feeling everything but sorry
We're having our own party two doors down
The song "Two Doors Down" by Dolly Parton tells the story of a woman who is crying alone in her room while her neighbors are having a party just two doors down. She decides to gather herself and go join the party, leaving her loneliness behind. As she walks down the hall, she meets someone new and they begin a conversation, eventually deciding to start their own party two doors down.
The lyrics evoke the feelings of loneliness, heartbreak, and the desire to escape from painful emotions. The contrast between the singer's isolation and the festive atmosphere of the party next door adds to the poignancy of the song. The turning point comes when the singer decides to take control of her own happiness and join the party. The final verse reveals that she has found someone new, and they are having their own celebration, showing that she has moved on from her past heartache.
Overall, "Two Doors Down" is a bittersweet reflection on the joys and sorrows of love and the importance of seizing the moment to find happiness.
Line by Line Meaning
Two doors down they're laughing and drinking and having a party
People nearby are enjoying a party.
And two doors down they're not aware that I'm around
The partygoers are unaware of the singer’s presence.
But here I am crying my heart out, feeling sorry
The singer is feeling lonely and sad.
But they're having a party just two doors down
The party is happening near the singer’s location.
I think I'll dry these useless tears and get myself together
The singer is trying to pull herself together and stop crying.
I think I'll wander down the hall and have a look around
The singer plans to take a look around and explore the area.
'Cause I can't stay inside this lonely room and cry forever
The singer cannot stay in her lonely room feeling sad forever.
I think I'd really rather join 'em two doors down
The singer is ready to join the party nearby.
Two doors down we're laughing and drinking and having a party
The singer has joined the nearby party and is having a good time.
And two doors down they're all aware that I'm around
The people at the party are now aware of the singer’s presence.
'Cause here I am no longer crying and feeling sorry
The singer is now happy and not feeling sorry anymore.
We're having a party just two doors down
The singer and the partygoers nearby are having a party.
I can't believe I'm standing here dry-eyed, all smiles and talkin'
The singer is surprised that she's not crying and is happy instead.
Making conversation with the new love I've found
The singer has found a new love interest and is talking to them.
I ask him if he'd like to be alone and we start walkin'
The singer has asked her new love interest to join her alone.
Down the hall to my place waiting two doors down, yeah
The singer and her love interest are walking down the hall to her place nearby.
'Cause here we end feeling everything but sorry
The singer and her love interest are happy and not feeling sorry.
We're having our own party two doors down
The singer and her love interest are having their own private party nearby.
Oh oh oh oh, two doors down
Repeating the refrain.
Oh oh oh oh, two doors down
Repeating the refrain.
Oh oh oh oh, two doors down
Repeating the refrain.
Oh oh oh oh, two doors down
Repeating the refrain.
Two doors down they're laughing and drinking and having a party
The people at the party are still enjoying themselves.
And two doors down we're not aware that they're around
The people at the party are unaware of the singer and her love interest’s private party nearby.
Here we end feeling everything but sorry
The singer and her love interest are happy and not feeling sorry.
We're having our own party two doors down
The singer and her love interest are still having their own private party nearby.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Dolly Parton
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Exorcising Erica
My dad died. Two family friends died. My cat died. Found out who my friends are. This song really was released when I needed it most. Thank you so much, Dolly. I love you.
Sandra Maciver
Keep your chin up RISE ABOVE EVERYONE IVE HAD Exactly THE SAME PROBLEMS ONLY WITH MY DAUGHTER AND HER Boyfriend MY CHIHUAHUA HAD TWO Operations I TOOK ILL Lost MY Husband MY MUM DAD Brother THEYVE TOOK OVER £10.000 FROM ME USEING A ONE Year OLD AS AMUNTION THEY LEFT MY TINY CHIHUAHUA ALONE WHILE I WAS IN HOSPITAL IVE TOOK HER round the world and this is the Thankx I get KARMA Will ARRIVE Soon AT THEM ITS HORRIBLE GODBLESS YOU 🙏🙏
Craig Brown
This songs been around 30years plus now. Still as beautiful today as it was then.
ChristiAnna Page
Keep on keeping on!! Sorry for all your losses.
Windy Water
A benefit of one of my favorites artists being older is always discovering new music from her all the time. Oldie but goodie. Shes timeless and I absolutely love this gem.
Stella Parton🎶
Thanks for supporting my music 🎶 I’m so grateful 💝 I would like to honor you by giving you my personal information if that’s ok by you.💓💜💜
Chelsie L
Shes such an angel! This woman deserves everything 💕💕💕
Craig Brown
And then shares it. What a beautiful woman.
Whiskerbiscuits
@Brian McLaughlin that's just a scammer
Brian McLaughlin
@Stella Parton🎶 Absolutely