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
For The Good Times
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But life goes on and this old world will keep on turning
Let's just be glad we had some time to spend together
There's no need to watch the bridges that we're burning
[Chorus:]
Lay your head upon my pillow
Hold your warm and tender body close to mine
Blowing soft against the window
And make believe you love me one more time
For the good times
I'll get along, and you'll find another
And I'll be here if you should find you ever need
Don't say a word about tomorrow or forever
There'll be time enough for sadness when you leave me
[Chorus]
For the good times
For the good times
The lyrics to Dolly Parton's song "For The Good Times" speak about the end of a relationship and the acceptance of its conclusion. The singer acknowledges that the relationship is over and encourages her partner not to be too saddened by it. She emphasizes that life goes on and that the world will continue to turn despite the end of their time together. Instead of dwelling on the breakup, she suggests cherishing the moments they had and refraining from burning bridges between them.
The chorus paints a picture of intimacy and comfort as the singer invites her partner to lay their head on her pillow and hold each other close. The sound of raindrops against the window creates a soothing atmosphere, as they both pretend for a moment that their love is still alive. The phrase "For the good times" is repeated, reminding both of the good memories they shared and the importance of focusing on those moments rather than the pain of the breakup.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't look so sad; I know it's over
Do not express despair; I am aware that our relationship has concluded.
But life goes on and this old world will keep on turning
Nevertheless, life will continue, and the world will persist in its rotation.
Let's just be glad we had some time to spend together
We should find joy in the fact that we had the opportunity to share some moments together.
There's no need to watch the bridges that we're burning
It is unnecessary to observe the destruction of the connections we are severing.
Lay your head upon my pillow
Rest your head upon my cushion.
Hold your warm and tender body close to mine
Embrace your affectionate and delicate form in close proximity to mine.
Hear the whisper of the rain drops
Listen to the gentle murmurs of the raindrops.
Blowing soft against the window
Caressing the windowpane with their gentle breeze.
And make believe you love me one more time
Pretend, just for a moment, that you feel affection for me once again.
I'll get along, and you'll find another
I will manage to continue my life, and you will discover someone new.
And I'll be here if you should find you ever need
Furthermore, I will remain present if you should realize that you require my presence.
Don't say a word about tomorrow or forever
Avoid mentioning anything about the future or eternity.
There'll be time enough for sadness when you leave me
There will be plenty of time to experience sorrow once you depart from my life.
For the good times
In honor of the positive moments shared.
For the good times
In honor of the positive moments shared.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Spirit Music Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Kristoffer Kristofferson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Romy K.
on Gypsy Joe And Me
As a matter of fact she's contemplating suicide standing on the bridge, that's how they'll be together again.