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
Dump the Dude
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He's got you cryin', oh he's done it again
He's made a date and he didn't show
You know he's done this to you so many times
When you gonna let him go
He doesn't treat you little a lover should
He could be so downright cruel
Can't understand why you're hangin' with him
Go on and dump the dude
You know he's got a rotten attitude
He always leaves you in a cryin' mood
Take my advice, don't you think twice
Listen to what I'm telling you
Go on and dump the dude
You know that we've been friends for so many years
And I've never ever seen you this way
So torn apart, how he gets to your heart
With all the little games that he plays
Just give him up, get him out of your life
Promise me that once and for all
You're gonna tell him that it's over and done
The very next time he calls, ain't you now
Dump the dude
You know he's got a rotten attitude
He always leaves you in a cryin' mood
Take my advice, find somebody nice
Listen to what I'm telling you
Go on and dump the dude
Girl, I know you may think this is none of my business
But the fact that we're friends I believe that makes it my business
I care about you but I ain't preachin'
I think you should dump the dude
I don't know why you'd want to settle for less
When you could have so much more
You know that you deserve only the best
So what are you waiting for?
Go on and dump the dude
You know he's got a rotten attitude
He always leaves you in a cryin' mood
Take my advice, don't you think twice
Find yourself somebody nice
Go on and dump the dude
In Dolly Parton's song "Dump the Dude," the lyrics depict a close friend offering advice to a woman who is continuously mistreated by her partner. The friend begins by acknowledging the woman's distress and the recurring pattern of her partner's behavior -- making plans and not following through. The friend questions why the woman remains attached to someone who treats her poorly, emphasizing that he is cruel and does not treat her with the love and respect she deserves. The friend implores the woman to break free from this toxic relationship, urging her to listen to their advice and not hesitate to end things with her partner.
The lyrics convey a sense of caring and concern from the friend's perspective. They emphasize the long-standing friendship they share, noting that they have never seen the woman so devastated before. The friend acknowledges the emotional manipulation and mind games employed by the partner, urging the woman to let go and remove him from her life. They encourage her to assert her worth and confront her partner, making it clear that she deserves better treatment. By insisting on dumping the "dude," the friend underscores the importance of self-respect and the potential for finding someone who will treat her with kindness and love.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey girl, I wanna give you some friendly advice
I have some important advice to offer you as a friend
He's got you cryin', oh he's done it again
He repeatedly makes you cry and hurt
He's made a date and he didn't show
He didn't keep his promise to meet you
You know he's done this to you so many times
He has repeatedly disappointed you
When you gonna let him go
When will you finally end the relationship
He doesn't treat you little a lover should
He doesn't treat you with the love and respect you deserve
He could be so downright cruel
He can be extremely unkind and heartless
Can't understand why you're hangin' with him
I can't comprehend why you are still with him
Girl, don't you be a fool
Please don't continue to make foolish choices
Go on and dump the dude
End the relationship with him
You know he's got a rotten attitude
He consistently displays a negative and unpleasant demeanor
He always leaves you in a cryin' mood
He continually causes you to feel sad and upset
Take my advice, don't you think twice
Follow my recommendation without hesitation
Listen to what I'm telling you
Pay attention to my words of wisdom
You know that we've been friends for so many years
We have been friends for a long time
And I've never ever seen you this way
I have never seen you so affected or distressed
So torn apart, how he gets to your heart
He deeply affects and upsets you emotionally
With all the little games that he plays
He manipulates and plays mind games with you
Just give him up, get him out of your life
Simply let go of him and remove him from your life
Promise me that once and for all
Make a vow to finally and conclusively
You're gonna tell him that it's over and done
You will firmly communicate that the relationship is finished
The very next time he calls, ain't you now
Next time he reaches out to you, end it for good
I know you may think this is none of my business
You might believe that I shouldn't be involved
But the fact that we're friends I believe that makes it my business
However, because we're friends, I think it concerns me
I care about you but I ain't preachin'
I do genuinely care about you, but I don't want to sermonize
I think you should dump the dude
In my opinion, you should end the relationship with him
I don't know why you'd want to settle for less
I don't understand why you would accept a lower standard
When you could have so much more
When there are much better options available to you
You know that you deserve only the best
You are aware that you deserve nothing less than the best
So what are you waiting for?
Why are you hesitating?
Take my advice, don't you think twice
Accept my recommendation without second-guessing
Find yourself somebody nice
Discover someone who will treat you well
Go on and dump the dude
End the relationship with him
Lyrics © Spirit Music Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ALLAN RICH, STEPHEN DORFF
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.