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
Family
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For they know not what they do
When it's family, you accept them
'Cause you have no choice but to
When it's family, they're a mirror
Of the worst and best in you
And they always put you to the test
And you always try to do your best
When it's family
Some are preachers, some are gay
Some are addicts, drunks and strays
But not a one is turned away
When it's family
Some are lucky, others ain't
Some are fighters, others faint
Winners, losers, sinners, saints
It's all family
And when it's family, you trust them
And your heart's an open door
When it's family, you tolerate
What you'd kill others for
When it's family, you love and hate
And take then give some more
Somehow you justify mistakes
Try to find some better way
To solve the problems day to day
In the family
You take the trouble as it comes
And love 'em more than anyone
Good or bad or indifferent
It's still family
You choose your lovers
You pick your friends
Not the family that you're in
They'll be with you 'til the end
'Cause it's family
When it's family, you forgive them
For they know not what they do
When it's family, they're a mirror
Of the worst and best in you
When it's family, when it's family
Let me be all that I should be
To the family
In Dolly Parton's song "Family", she speaks about the complicated nature of families, how they are by no means perfect or always easy to deal with yet there is an undeniable bond between family members. The opening lines reveal this sentiment: "When it's family, you forgive them for they know not what they do. When it's family, you accept them 'cause you have no choice but to". These lines illustrate the unconditional love that family members have for each other, regardless of their faults or how difficult they can be to deal with.
Later in the song, the lyrics become more specific about the different types of people one can find in a family. There are those who are "preachers, some are gay, some are addicts, drunks and strays" and yet "not a one is turned away when it's family". This highlights the idea that families are made up of all types of individuals, and it is the love and acceptance one has for their family that allows them to overlook these differences.
The song also touches on the idea that family members can both bring out the best and worst in each other, and that they are there to "put you to the test". Despite this, the singer believes that "when it's family, you trust them and your heart's an open door". This illustrates the unique bond that family members share, and the trust and openness that comes with it.
Overall, the song emphasizes the complexity of families and the way that they challenge us, but also the love and connection that holds them together.
Line by Line Meaning
When it's family, you forgive them
Regardless of their mistakes, you grant their pardon when it concerns family
For they know not what they do
Since ignorance is the cause of their errors, you learn to forgive
When it's family, you accept them
Family acceptance is inevitable despite their inadequacies
'Cause you have no choice but to
You're left with no alternative but to embrace them as family regardless of their flaws
When it's family, they're a mirror
Family members reflect the worst and the best in you
Of the worst and best in you
Family members reflect both your strengths and weaknesses
And they always put you to the test
Family members are always challenging you
And you always try to do your best
You always strive to do your best in dealing with the challenges
And just pray for God to do the rest
After delivering your best, you leave the rest to God
When it's family
All of the above is meant when family is mentioned
Some are preachers, some are gay
Some family members are clergy or homosexual
Some are addicts, drunks, and strays
Some family members experience addiction, alcoholism, or vagrancy
But not a one is turned away
However, rejection of any family member is out of the question
When it's family
All these traits become tolerable when family is in question
Some are lucky, others ain't
In family, some members are fortunate, while others are not
Some are fighters, others faint
There may be those who are combative and those who give up easily
Winners, losers, sinners, saints
Family members encompass a wide range of character types
It's all family
Despite their differences, all these people are family
And when it's family, you trust them
You hold family members in high regard and trust them unconditionally
And your heart's an open door
You're willing to welcome family members into your life with open arms
When it's family, you tolerate
Despite the discomfort they may cause, you learn to tolerate certain behaviors for the sake of family
What you'd kill others for
You'd react differently towards others, but not with family as you learn toleration
When it's family, you love and hate
Family is complex and can be loved and resented at the same time
And take then give some more
Family is a two-way street with you giving and receiving in equal measure
Somehow you justify mistakes
Mistakes can be justified in the context of family
Try to find some better way
You are always striving to improve the family dynamic
To solve the problems day to day
The day-to-day problems must be resolved by finding common ground
In the family
All of this occurs within the realm of family
You take the trouble as it comes
You deal with problems as they arise in family situations
And love 'em more than anyone
Family members are loved more than anyone else despite their flaws
Good or bad or indifferent
Family members are still loved regardless of their personality type
It's still family
No matter how bad it gets or what happens, family still remains
You choose your lovers
Your romantic partners are selected by you
You pick your friends
You select your friends according to your taste
Not the family that you're in
However, there is no option to choose your family
They'll be with you 'til the end
Your family members will be with you until the end of your life
'Cause it's family
This bond exists simply because it is family
Let me be all that I should be
Allow me to become the best version of myself
To the family
For the betterment of the family unit
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DOLLY PARTON, CARL PERKINS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Grunge
What is your favorite Dolly Parton song?
Lori
Coat of many colors, 9 to 5, Jolene, islands in the stream, I will always love you… wait, what’s not to love ❤
*miracles&blessings*
Mule Skinner Blues
Karin Van Tubbergh
Coat of many colors
Tina Butkus
My favorite song is coat of many colors
Mimi Milan
Here You Come Again, It's All Wrong But It's Alright, The Bargain Store, Why'd You Come in Here? and 9 to 5 are my top favorites, but really ALL of Dolly's songs are good.
Debra Kasprick
Love Dolly, she never forgot her humble beginnings, she obviously has a loving, strong family base.
marilucastillo7777
She’s such a national treasure.
Lori
I think Dolly and Loretta Lynn were and are amazing, beautiful, talented souls. They carried themselves as ladies and you never hear anything bad about those women. RIP Loretta. True women of country ❤❤
Sam Jeffries
Love Dolly Parton she is amazing and so beautiful she such an angel love her music!!