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
Get Out and Stay Out
Dolly Parton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I used to want you, but now the tables turned
I used to love you, now it's your time to squirm
I'm saying goodbye and I won't wait for your return.
So get out and stay out, I've finally had enough
Don't kiss me on your way out, it wouldn't move me much
You used me, abused me, you cheated and you lied
I wonder what you'll do when I am not around
Now that your new love has up and let you down
You've always come crying to me throughout the years
To mend another broken heart and dry your selfish tears.
So get out and stay out, I'm moving on at last
'Cause, I've been so foolish, but that was in the past.
I never thought I'd be the one to say goodbye
So get out and stay out, I'm taking back my life.
Dreams and plans are in the making
I just wish it was as simple as it sounds
Life is out there for the taking
Now that I'm unfettered and unbound
You get out and you stay out, I've finally had enough
Don't kiss me on your way out, it wouldn't move me much
You used me, abused me, you cheated and you lied
So get out and stay out, I'm taking back my life
I'm taking back my life
Taking it back my life
I'm taking it back
I use to need you
I used to want you
I used to love him but now the tables turned.
The lyrics to Dolly Parton's song "Get Out and Stay Out" are a declaration of independence from a toxic relationship. The singer has finally learned that the person they used to rely on has been taking advantage of their kindness all along. The tables have turned, and now it's time for the other person to squirm. The singer is drawing a line in the sand and saying goodbye for good.
As the song progresses, we see that this relationship has been a pattern throughout the years. The other person has come crying back each time they've been let down by someone else, and the singer has been there to pick up the pieces. But now, the singer is done being a doormat. They're moving on with their life and taking control of their future. Dreams and plans are in the making, and the singer is unbound by the toxic relationship they've been trapped in for so long.
The message of "Get Out and Stay Out" is a powerful one. It's a reminder that we don't have to put up with people who don't treat us with respect and kindness. We have the power to take control of our lives and move on from toxic situations. The song is an anthem for anyone who has ever felt trapped in a relationship that was doing more harm than good.
Line by Line Meaning
I used to need you, but then I finally learned
I used to depend on you but now I have learned to live without you.
I used to want you, but now the tables turned
I used to desire you but now the roles have reversed.
I used to love you, now it's your time to squirm
I once had deep affection for you but now it's time for you to face the consequences.
I'm saying goodbye and I won't wait for your return.
I'm leaving you behind and I won't be coming back.
So get out and stay out, I've finally had enough
I'm done with you, leave and never come back.
Don't kiss me on your way out, it wouldn't move me much
Your attempt to show affection won't make me change my mind.
You used me, abused me, you cheated and you lied
You took advantage of me, mistreated me, and were unfaithful and dishonest.
I wonder what you'll do when I am not around
I am curious about how you will cope without me.
Now that your new love has up and let you down
After your new partner has disappointed you.
You've always come crying to me throughout the years
In the past, you always relied on me for emotional support.
To mend another broken heart and dry your selfish tears.
To fix someone else's heartache and mend your own selfishness.
So get out and stay out, I'm moving on at last
I'm finally moving forward and leaving you in the past.
'Cause, I've been so foolish, but that was in the past.
I made mistakes, but that's all in the past now.
I never thought I'd be the one to say goodbye
I never imagined I would be the one to end it.
Dreams and plans are in the making
I'm making plans for my future.
I just wish it was as simple as it sounds
I wish it was easy to move on and leave the past behind.
Life is out there for the taking
There's so much out in the world to explore and experience.
Now that I'm unfettered and unbound
Now that I'm free from the aches and pains of the past.
You get out and you stay out, I've finally had enough
You need to leave me alone forever, because I've had enough of you.
I'm taking back my life
I'm reclaiming my happiness and my future.
Taking it back my life
Taking control of what's rightfully mine, my own life.
I'm taking it back
I'm taking control and ownership of my life and future.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DOLLY PARTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Toon Holman
I love you Dolly, but SJB does it better. 9 to 5 will always be your present to us though <3
Miraculous Woman
Remain out.
Ruth music
Good strong song of standing up for your rights.