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
Feels Like Home
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Makes me want to lose myself in your arms
There's something in your voice makes my heart beat fast
Hope this feeling lasts the rest of my life
If you knew how lonely my life has been
And how long I've felt so low
If you knew how I wanted someone to come along
And change my life the way you've done
Feels like home to me
Feels like I'm all the way back where I come from
Feels like home to me
Feels like home to me
Feels like I'm all the way back where I belong
A window breaks down a long dark street
And a siren wails in the night
But I'm alright cause I have you here with me
And I can almost see through the dark there's light
If you knew how much this moment means to me
And how long I've waited for your touch
If you know how happy you are making me
I've never thought I'd love anyone so much
Feels like home to me
Feels like home to me
Feels like I'm all the way back where I come from
Feels like home to me
Feels like home to me
Feels like I'm all the way back where I belong
Feels like I'm all the way back where I belong
The song "Feels Like Home" sung by Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, and Linda Ronstadt is a love song about finding someone who makes you feel like home. It begins with the first verse, where the singer talks about how the person's eyes and voice make them want to lose themselves in their arms. The second verse talks about how lonely the singer's life has been and how they've been waiting for someone to come along and change their life, which is just what has happened. It's a moment that means so much to them and they've waited so long for it.
The chorus is the refrain of the song, and it repeats that this new love feels like home to the singer. They feel like they're back where they belong and are all the way back where they come from. The final verse talks about a window breaking down a long, dark street and a siren wailing in the night, but the singer is alright because they have their love with them. They feel like they're all the way back where they belong.
Overall, the song is a beautiful representation of true love, and finding someone who makes you feel completely comfortable and at home.
Line by Line Meaning
Something in your eyes makes me want to lose myself
The way you look at me has such a powerful effect that I feel as though I am losing myself in you.
Makes me want to lose myself in your arms
Your embrace is so comforting and welcoming that it makes me want to give myself fully to you.
There's something in your voice makes my heart beat fast
The sound of your voice is so enchanting that it makes my heart race with excitement and anticipation.
Hope this feeling lasts the rest of my life
I never want to lose this incredible feeling of being completely enamored with you and I hope it never fades away.
If you knew how lonely my life has been
You have no idea how isolated and alone I have felt before you came into my life.
And how long I've felt so low
My spirits have been down for an extensive amount of time, and I have been searching for a way to pick myself up.
If you knew how I wanted someone to come along
I have wished for someone to enter my life and change everything for the better.
And change my life the way you've done
You have completely revolutionized my life and brought me immeasurable joy and happiness.
Feels like home to me
Being with you gives me a sense of belonging and familiarity that I have been seeking my entire life.
Feels like I'm all the way back where I come from
Being with you feels natural and comfortable, as if I have returned to a place where I am truly myself.
A window breaks down a long dark street
There is chaos and trouble around us, symbolized by a broken window in the middle of a dark street.
And a siren wails in the night
The sound of an emergency vehicle siren adds to the unsettling atmosphere.
But I'm alright cause I have you here with me
Despite the unsettling conditions around us, I feel safe and secure because I am with you.
And I can almost see through the dark there's light
Your presence provides me with hope and optimism, even in the darkest of times.
If you knew how much this moment means to me
I cannot fully express how much being with you in this moment means to me, it is beyond words.
And how long I've waited for your touch
I have been yearning for the feeling of your touch for so long, and now that you are here with me, it is everything I have ever wanted.
If you know how happy you are making me
You have brought me more happiness and joy than I ever thought possible.
I've never thought I'd love anyone so much
The depth of my love for you has surpassed all of my expectations and prior beliefs.
Feels like I'm all the way back where I belong
Being with you feels like I have finally found my true home and my true self.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Randy Newman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
mrsbee
A perfect song, sung perfectly. So poignant to think Linda can no longer share her beautiful voice.
Amy Sims
I love this song so much, it really called me home a lot!!!
Becky Knight
I never really appreciated Linda's voice until I discovered how versatile she is. Such a cruel thing that she can no longer sing as she once did. This is like a bird who can't fly or sing. We love you Linda.
April Jo
This song has so much meaning to me now that I'm old. The folks we knew and grew up with are deeper ingrained in our memories and hearts than what we ever realize. Such a beautiful song that exemplifies just that.
Paul R
You don't look old :-)
DeeAnna DeVasher Edens
That's true, April........this song really "speaks" to me.......especially now that I am older............you said it so well !
JaminGammy
A match made in heaven❣️ I've often wondered how these 3 ever got together to make such beautiful music together. I've always wanted to know how they meet and decided to sing together. Just can't top these 3 beautiful voices! 3 BEAUTIFUL WOMEN❣️
Donnie Hagy
What a beautiful song and what angelic voices to do it justice!
Andy Davidson
Every time that I try to sing along with Linda I cry because I can no longer hear that beautiful voice.
SHARRON CRANDELL
Linda is amazing fell in love with her voice in the '60's & 70's. She could sing the phone book and I'd love it. So sad she can no longer share her amazing gift with the world but we have all the incredible albums she made for all our memories. Take care Linda!!!