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
Fight and Scratch
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There surely must be more to love than to fight and scratch with you
You you to fight and scratch with you
Well you just bought a foal last month now you want a wig
It looks like you couldn't understand my paycheck ain't that big
Well what about the dough you lose in them poker games downtown
(I figured you'd mention that smart aleck)
But no uhhuh I don't reckon that'd count really
Fight and scratch fight and scratch...
Sometimes I swear I think that you're the devil in disguise
Cause when you're mad you oughta see the fire fly from your eyes
Well you don't look so cute yourself when you're mad at me
And if you don't like the way I look then you know how to leave
Fight and scratch fight and scratch...
Well I love you and you love me but we're always findin' fault
But the way we fight you wouldn't know we had any love at all
We just fight like cats and dogs we'll leave then come right back
For what excitement would we have if we didn't fight and scratch
Fight and scratch fight and scratch...
Why don't you drop dead oh you'd like me to and I'll live forever just for spite
Why don't you keep your big mouth shot
Well why don't you just make me if you think you're big enough
Yeah and I could whip you with both hands tied behind
Yeah you just try it with me and I'll knock your brains out
With a stick of soap that's good Catfish
What's a catfish why'd you call me that
They're all mouth and no brains boy that's really good
It's all I can do to keep from laughin' hah
That's funny you sure are a funny little fellow
The lyrics to Dolly Parton's song "Fight and Scratch" depict a couple who are always fighting and finding fault with one another. The singer suggests that love should be more than just fighting and arguing all the time. The song seems to be a lighthearted take on the ups and downs of relationships, and the ways in which couples can still find love and excitement in spite of their disagreements.
The lyrics paint a picture of a couple who are constantly at odds with one another. They bicker about everything from money to household expenses to personal appearance. Despite their constant fighting, however, the couple seems to have a deep affection for one another. They love each other, but they just can't seem to stop fighting.
Line by Line Meaning
Fight and scratch fight and scratch that's all we ever do
We argue and bicker constantly, it seems like it's never-ending.
There surely must be more to love than to fight and scratch with you
I believe that our love can be deeper and more fulfilling than just fighting and arguing all the time.
You you to fight and scratch with you
It's you that I'm always fighting and arguing with, and I want that to change.
Well you just bought a foal last month now you want a wig
You're spending all our money on frivolous things, like a horse and a wig, and it's causing financial strain.
It looks like you couldn't understand my paycheck ain't that big
I don't think you understand that I don't make a lot of money, and we need to be more careful with what we spend.
Well what about the dough you lose in them poker games downtown
You're not the only one spending money on things we don't need, you lose money gambling too.
(I figured you'd mention that smart aleck)
I knew you were going to bring up my gambling losses and be sarcastic about it.
Yeah and that brand new boat and that fishin' gear
You also spent a lot of money on a new boat and fishing equipment.
But no uhhuh I don't reckon that'd count really
You don't see your spending as being as big of a problem as mine.
Sometimes I swear I think that you're the devil in disguise
You can be so difficult to deal with that I wonder if you're intentionally trying to make my life hard.
Cause when you're mad you oughta see the fire fly from your eyes
You can be very intimidating when you're angry, and it's hard to communicate with you.
Well you don't look so cute yourself when you're mad at me
You're not very pleasant to be around when you're angry, either.
And if you don't like the way I look then you know how to leave
If you're not happy with me, then you're free to leave the relationship.
Well I love you and you love me but we're always findin' fault
We love each other, but it seems like we're always finding reasons to be upset with one another.
But the way we fight you wouldn't know we had any love at all
Our constant fighting makes it seem like we don't even love each other.
We just fight like cats and dogs we'll leave then come right back
We argue a lot, but we always seem to make up and stay together.
For what excitement would we have if we didn't fight and scratch
Our arguments and fights provide some excitement and drama to our relationship.
Why don't you drop dead oh you'd like me to and I'll live forever just for spite
We say hurtful things to each other when we're upset, even if we don't really mean it.
Why don't you keep your big mouth shot
You need to stop talking and start listening to me.
Well why don't you just make me if you think you're big enough
You're challenging me to a physical fight, which is not productive or healthy for our relationship.
Yeah and I could whip you with both hands tied behind
You're making fun of my lack of physical strength and trying to provoke me.
Yeah you just try it with me and I'll knock your brains out
You're threatening to hurt me if I try to fight you.
With a stick of soap that's good Catfish
You're making a joke at my expense and calling me a silly nickname.
What's a catfish why'd you call me that
I don't understand the joke you're making or why you're calling me that name.
They're all mouth and no brains boy that's really good
You're insulting me by saying that I talk too much and don't think before I speak.
It's all I can do to keep from laughin' hah
Despite our arguments and insults, I can't help but find some humor in the situation.
That's funny you sure are a funny little fellow
You're acknowledging the humor in our argument and trying to lighten the mood a bit.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DOLLY PARTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@debra08h
Love it!!!
@debrajeanwagoner3520
You have to enjoy this song it's fun.
@africanchild4525
I laugh at this song everytime when I listen like it's the first time listening. lol. Old is gold
@dalewalker4684
I remember my dad listening to this song, it brings such great memories to me
@sharonpowersca
I sure love this duet
@sharonpowersca
Don't we all lol
@extremesoutherngal
😂😂😂😂