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
Down from Dover
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I know this dress I'm wearing doesn't hide the secret I've tried concealing
When he left he promised me he'd be back by the time it was revealing
The sun behind a cloud just casts the crawling shadow o'er the fields of clover
And time is running out for me, I wish that he would hurry down from Dover
He's been gone so long, when he left the snow was deep upon the ground
And I have seen a spring and summer pass and now the leaves are turning brown
But I won't have a name to give it if he doesn't hurry down from Dover, from Dover, from Dover
My folks weren't understanding, when they found out they sent me from the home place
My daddy said if folks found out he'd be ashamed to ever show his face
My mamma said I was a fool, she did not believe it when I told her
Momma, everything's gonna be all right 'cause soon he would be coming down from Dover
I found a place to stay out on a farm takin' care of that old lady
She never asked me nuthin' so I never talked to her about my baby
I sent a messgae to my mom with a name and address of Ms. ol' Grover
And to make sure he got that information when he came down from Dover
I loved him more than anything and I could not refuse him when he needed me
He was the only one I'd loved and I just can't believe that he was usin' me
He wouldn't leave me here like this, I know it can't be so, it can't be over
He wouldn't make me go through this alone, he'll be coming down from Dover
My body aches the time is here it's lonely in this place where I'm lying
Our baby has been born, but something's wrong, it's too still, I hear no crying
I guess in some strange way she knew she'd never have a father's arms to hold her
So dying was her way of tellin' me he wasn't coming down from Dover, from Dover, from Dover
Down from Dover
In Dolly Parton's song Down from Dover, the singer speaks of a secret she's tried to conceal, which becomes more and more pressing as her pregnancy progresses. She's been waiting for her lover, who left her a long time ago, to return before the baby is born. The song is narrated in the form of a monologue shared by a young woman who's facing an unplanned pregnancy and is waiting for her lover to come back to her before the baby arrives. The singer reveals that her parents sent her away when they found out about her condition, and she's been living with an old lady on a farm. She's written to her lover's mother to tell him of the baby's birth, but as time goes by, it becomes clear that he won't be coming down from Dover.
The lyrics are emotionally charged, as the singer is anxiously awaiting the return of her lover, who promised that he would be back before the baby arrived. She has no name to give the child if her lover doesn't show up, and her whole world is collapsing around her as she struggles to come to terms with the fact that she might have to raise the child alone. Despite the bleakness of the situation, the singer maintains hope that her lover will return, which makes the final few lines all the more devastating. The baby has been born, but it's still and silent, and the singer comes to the terrible realization that her lover has abandoned her and their child. The song is a poignant commentary on the plight of unwed mothers in the mid-20th century and the way they were often alienated and rejected by society.
Line by Line Meaning
I know this dress I'm wearing doesn't hide the secret I've tried concealing
The singer is aware that her dress does not cover up her pregnancy, which she has kept a secret.
When he left he promised me he'd be back by the time it was revealing
The singer's partner left with the promise of returning before her pregnancy became apparent.
The sun behind a cloud just casts the crawling shadow o'er the fields of clover
The weather is dreary and overcast, creating a metaphorical representation of the singer's mood.
And time is running out for me, I wish that he would hurry down from Dover
The artist is anxious and feels that time is running out for her partner to return before the baby comes.
He's been gone so long, when he left the snow was deep upon the ground
The artist's partner has been gone for a long time, since the winter months when there was snow on the ground.
And I have seen a spring and summer pass and now the leaves are turning brown
The singer has waited through the spring and summer months, and now it is fall and the leaves are changing colors.
At any time a tiny face will show itself 'cause waiting's almost over
The singer is about to give birth to their child, which will soon make an appearance.
But I won't have a name to give it if he doesn't hurry down from Dover, from Dover, from Dover
If the artist's partner does not return in time, the baby will be born without a name.
My folks weren't understanding, when they found out they sent me from the home place
The artist's parents were not supportive when they found out about her pregnancy and sent her away from their home.
My daddy said if folks found out he'd be ashamed to ever show his face
The artist's father was ashamed of the situation and did not want to be associated with it.
My mamma said I was a fool, she did not believe it when I told her
The singer's mother did not believe her when she told her about the pregnancy, and thought she was foolish.
Momma, everything's gonna be all right 'cause soon he would be coming down from Dover
The artist reassures her mother that everything will be okay once her partner returns.
I found a place to stay out on a farm takin' care of that old lady
The singer found a place to stay on a farm, where she was able to take care of an elderly woman.
She never asked me nuthin' so I never talked to her about my baby
The elderly woman never asked the singer any questions about her pregnancy, so she kept it to herself.
I sent a message to my mom with a name and address of Ms. ol' Grover
The singer sent a message to her mother with the name and address of someone named Ms. Grover.
And to make sure he got that information when he came down from Dover
The artist wants to make sure her partner receives the message when he returns.
I loved him more than anything and I could not refuse him when he needed me
The artist loved her partner deeply and could not say no to him when he needed her.
He was the only one I'd loved and I just can't believe that he was usin' me
The singer is disheartened to think that her partner may have been using her for his own purposes.
He wouldn't leave me here like this, I know it can't be so, it can't be over
The singer refuses to believe that her partner would abandon her during this time.
He wouldn't make me go through this alone, he'll be coming down from Dover
The artist trusts that her partner will return to be with her during the birth of their child.
My body aches the time is here it's lonely in this place where I'm lying
The artist is in pain and lonely as she prepares to give birth to her child.
Our baby has been born, but something's wrong, it's too still, I hear no crying
The baby has been born but is not crying, which could indicate that something is wrong.
I guess in some strange way she knew she'd never have a father's arms to hold her
The singer believes that her child somehow knew she would never have the love and support of her father.
So dying was her way of tellin' me he wasn't coming down from Dover, from Dover, from Dover
The baby passed away, which is seen as a message from fate that the partner will never return.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Dolly Parton
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ilaye La Coa
LYRICS
I know this dress I'm wearing doesn't hide the secret I've tried concealing
When he left he promised me he'd be back by the time it was revealing
The sun behind a cloud just casts the crawling shadow o'er the fields of clover
And time is running out for me, I wish that he would hurry down from Dover
He's been gone so long, when he left the snow was deep upon the ground
And I have seen a spring and summer pass and now the leaves are turning brown
At any time a tiny face will show itself 'cause waiting's almost over
But I won't have a name to give it if he doesn't hurry down from Dover, from Dover, from Dover
My folks weren't understanding, when they found out they sent me from the home place
My daddy said if folks found out he'd be ashamed to ever show his face
My mamma said I was a fool, she did not believe it when I told her
Momma, everything's gonna be all right 'cause soon he would be coming down from Dover
I loved him more than anything and I could not refuse him when he needed me
He was the only one I'd loved and I just can't believe that he was usin' me
He wouldn't leave me here like this, I know it can't be so, it can't be over
He wouldn't make me go through this alone, he'll be coming down from Dover
My body aches the time is here it's lonely in this place where I'm lying
Our baby has been born, but something's wrong, it's too still, I hear no crying
I guess in some strange way she knew she'd never have a father's arms to hold her
So dying was her way of tellin' me he wasn't coming down from Dover, from Dover, from Dover
Down from Dover
Jeffery D Smith
Can you imagine writing this song in 1969? Dolly wasn't afraid to write about life's true stories. Unfortunately radio wasn't ready for this song in 1969. Dolly was ahead of her genre.
Javon A’Mari
I see I thought lee did it
Jeffery D Smith
@Javon A’Mari She most certainly did! This song first premiered on her album, The fairest of them all in 1970. Dolly considers this song one of her best written material.
Javon A’Mari
She didnt write this song
mich charles
@RealCanadianGirl 000000⁰00000000
RealCanadianGirl
This song has been made into a story on Netflix now
Jody Vance
This gorgeous, very affecting song should get far more mention than it does. I think it's among her very finest.
Melinda Ward
2:53 DAMN!!! That part just broke my heart tears rolling down my face this song is AMAZING especially since it's so old to sing about a topic like that.I love you Dolly your a legend and an Angel😇😙
Robotron 2084
She was just now on Steven Colbert and she said this was her favourite "Dolly" song.
Craig Brown
Am I an addict I can't stop playing Dolly music all the time. Anyone else play a lot of Dolly?