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
Everyday People
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My own beliefs are in my songs
A butcher, a banker, a drummer and then
Makes no difference what group I'm in
I am everyday people
Then it's the blue ones who can't accept
The green ones for living with
Different strokes for different folks
And so on and so on and scooby dooby dooby
We gotta live together
I am no better and neither are you
We're all the same whatever we do
You love me, you hate me
You know me and then
Still can't figure out the scene I'm in
I am everyday people
Then it's the new man
That doesn't like the short man
For being such a rich one
That will not help the poor one
Different strokes for different folks
And so on and so on scooby dooby dooby
We got to live together
There is a yellow one that won't
Accept the black one
That wont accept the red one
That wont accept the white one
Different strokes for different folks
And so on and so on and
Scooby dooby dooby
I am everyday people
The lyrics of Dolly Parton's song Everyday People talk about how different people come together to form a society. She addresses the differences in opinions, lifestyles, and races, and how it is essential to live together as one. She celebrates the diversity of people from different professions, backgrounds, and colors and emphasizes that they all are equal.
In the first verse, she talks about her own beliefs, which are reflected in her songs. She speaks about how people from different groups come together and how that makes no difference to her. She identifies herself as one of the everyday people.
The second verse addresses the issue of discriminating against people based on their color, wealth, or body type. She highlights that everyone is different and that we should accept and respect each other's differences. She talks about how people who don't accept others, block the progress of society, and how different strokes or approaches are required for the smooth functioning of society.
Overall, Dolly Parton encourages people to accept diversity and coexist peacefully. The song intones that no matter how different we all are, we should respect and celebrate each other's differences, just as we would want them to do with ours.
Line by Line Meaning
Sometimes I'm right then I can be wrong
I have my own opinions and sometimes they are right and sometimes they are wrong
My own beliefs are in my songs
The lyrics I write are based on my personal beliefs
A butcher, a banker, a drummer and then
It doesn't matter what profession you have, we are all equal
Makes no difference what group I'm in
Labels and groups do not define who we are as individuals
I am everyday people
I am just like everyone else and we are all in this together
Then it's the blue ones who can't accept
Some people cannot accept those who are different from them
The green ones for living with
Others judge those who are different based solely on their visible differences
The black ones tryin' to be a skinny one
People are judged for trying to change or improve themselves
Different strokes for different folks
People have different preferences and ways of doing things
And so on and so on and scooby dooby dooby
This goes on and on, like a never-ending cycle
We gotta live together
Despite our differences, we have to coexist and get along
I am no better and neither are you
No one is superior and we should view each other as equals
We're all the same whatever we do
Regardless of our actions, we are all human beings with the same inherent value
You love me, you hate me
There will always be people who have positive and negative feelings towards us
You know me and then
Others may know us, but they may not truly understand us
Still can't figure out the scene I'm in
It can be difficult for others to understand or empathize with our personal experiences
Then it's the new man
Newcomers to a group may be excluded by the existing members
That doesn't like the short man
Differences that are not visible may still lead to discrimination and intolerance
For being such a rich one
We may judge others based on their economic status or material possessions
That will not help the poor one
Those who are more privileged may not help those who are less fortunate
There is a yellow one that won't
People discriminate against those who are different from them, even within their own minority group
Accept the black one
Some people who are part of one minority group may discriminate against another minority group
That wont accept the red one
Intolerance towards another minority group based on their race or ethnicity
That wont accept the white one
Reverse discrimination and intolerance towards white people
Scooby dooby dooby
An expression of the never-ending cycle of intolerance and discrimination based on differences
I am everyday people
A reminder that despite our differences, we are all part of the same human family
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Sylvester Stewart
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
David Floro
I’ve said it before: Dolly is brilliant at music, and part of that brilliance isn’t only her own great songwriting, but also is recognizing the great songs of others (in this case, from Sly).
Vince Pierce
love this version of the song thanks Dolly😊
Jimmie Granger
Love this song thanks dolly
bryan emler
I wish this was actually on the CD
Ryan Colvin
The newer version does
Kevin Wingler
dolly gettin down!!!!!!!!!
Craig Brown
Unfortunately Dolly, for some reason Australian version of 9 to 5 and odd jobs didn't have this song on it.
L H
@Craig Brown absolutely. Not sure if you’ve ever been to the states but besides its Bible Belt politics, I’m grateful to live in Tennessee. Dollywood (Dolly Patton’s amusement park) is my favorite place on earth.
Craig Brown
@L H Yes mine too, and I do love that song.
L H
The 9 to 5 I have has neither, and has a song called “Sing for the Common Man” instead