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
False Eyelashes
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When they hear my records play
They say their home town girl made good
And she'd go a long long way
Mom wonders why I don't drive back
In that big fine car I own
The truth is I don't have a car
And I'm ashamed to go back home
A pair of false eye lashes
And a tube of cheap lipstick
A pair of worn out high heel shoes
And a dress that doesn't fit
These are all my possessions
All I have to my name
And a record played in my home town
Is my only claim to fame
I'm so glad that dad can't see me now
His favorite little girl
Singing in this dingy place
On the wrong side of the world
And I'm glad that I can't see the boy
That offered me his name
For I was blind and turned from him
In this empty search for fame
A pair of false eye lashes
And a tube of cheap lipstick
A pair of worn out high heel shoes
And a dress that doesn't fit
These are all of my possessions
All I have to my name
And a record played in my home town
Is my only claim to fame
Yes, a record played in my home town
Is my only claim to fame
Dolly Parton's song False Eyelashes tells the story of a girl who left her hometown behind in pursuit of fame and success in the music industry. She is now a successful recording artist, however, the reality of her situation is not as glamorous as it seems. The lyrics reveal that she is now living on the "wrong side of the world" and doesn't have a car, despite what her family thinks. She describes her meager possessions, which include a pair of false eyelashes, cheap lipstick, worn-out high heel shoes, and a dress that doesn't fit. Her only source of recognition is a record played in her hometown, which makes her somewhat of a local celebrity, but ultimately she is still chasing after an empty dream.
The song touches on several themes, including the disillusionment of fame, the cost of dreams and the sacrifices people make for success. The lyrics reflect the loneliness and emptiness that can come with pursuing a career in the music industry. The girl is torn between her desire for recognition and the longing for the simplicity and comfort of her hometown. She is acutely aware of the disparity between who she is perceived to be and who she actually is. False Eyelashes is a poignant reminder of the sacrifices people make in the pursuit of their dreams.
Line by Line Meaning
Folks back home think I'm a star now
People from my hometown believe that I have achieved stardom and fame
When they hear my records play
They base their belief on listening to my songs
They say their home town girl made good
They are proud of me for achieving great things despite my humble beginnings
And she'd go a long long way
They think that I have a bright future ahead
Mom wonders why I don't drive back
My mother is curious as to why I haven't returned home driving a fancy car
In that big fine car I own
They assume that I own a luxurious car
The truth is I don't have a car
In reality, I do not own a car
And I'm ashamed to go back home
I feel embarrassed to return home since I have not achieved the success people believe I have
A pair of false eye lashes
I only possess a set of fake eyelashes
And a tube of cheap lipstick
My only makeup consists of a small, inexpensive tube of lipstick
A pair of worn out high heel shoes
The only footwear I have are old, tattered high heels
And a dress that doesn't fit
I wear a dress that does not fit me well
These are all my possessions
These few items are everything that I own
All I have to my name
These possessions are the entirety of what I possess
And a record played in my home town
The one thing I have to be proud of is a song of mine that is played in my hometown
Is my only claim to fame
That song is my only notable accomplishment, despite what others believe about me
Yes, a record played in my home town
I reiterate that the only thing I can be proud of is the fact that my song is played in my hometown
Is my only claim to fame
I have not achieved the success that people attribute to me, but I can take pride in this small achievement
Lyrics © VINTAGE MUSIC, INC.
Written by: Demetriss Tapp, Bob Tubert
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
cowgirl236
A sad, but very pretty song and Dolly is great! I've always loved to hear her sing!
Amanda Lisbôa
Great song!!!🤗🤗🤗
Pat Clarke
Love her singing
iota soda
This song is so real. I cry every time I hear it. ..
RedDirtRules
Back when Dolly was still doing real country. love it. Sara Borges does a great cover of this as well
Amber ♡
My favorite song on the album :)
Crystal Dunson
one of her best...
PaisleyPlace
I have some fond memories of hearing this song. It's pretty tough to find these days b/c it's so old. I remember watching her on The Grand Ole' Opry singing this song when I was a kid. My Papaw used to love her music but then again his family was from Cherokee (reservation in the mountains of NC)
Keefer Fleming
Great. Love to hear these stories 💜💜💜
Wayne Thompson
Love .. Love …. Song from Dolly !!!!